Introduction to Computer Architecture

ECE 154A, Fall 2022

A. Logistics

Instructor: Dmitri Strukov

Lectures: Tuesday / Thursday 12:30 pm – 1:45 pm, PHELP 1260

Office hours: Wednesday 9:00 am – 11:00 am, HFH 5153 (in person), or by appointment (in person or zoom)

Zoom: https://ucsb.zoom.us/j/99516654272

Required textbook: Digital Design and Computer Architecture, David Harris and Sarah Harris, 2^nd Ed., 2012

Recommended book: Computer Organization and Design: The Hardware/Software Interface, Patterson and Hennessy 4^th Ed., 2009 (“P&H”)

Teaching Assistants: Richard Boone

Email: richardbooneATucsbDOTedu

Recitations: Thursday 7:00 pm – 7:50 pm, GIRV 2124

Office hours: Tuesday 10:30 am – 11:30 am, ECI (backroom of CSIL)

Thursday 10:30 am – 11:30 am, ECI (backroom of CSIL)

Ethan Sifferman

Email: ethanjsiffermanATucsbDOTedu

Recitations: Friday 11:00 am – 11:50 am, PHELP 1445

Office hours: TBA, ECI (backroom of CSIL)

Kevin Yuen

Email: kevinyuenATumailDOTucsbDOTedu

Recitations: Friday 10:00 am – 10:50 am, PHELP 1444

Office hours: Tuesday 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm, ECI (backroom of CSIL)

Thursday 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm, ECI (backroom of CSIL)

Q&A will be also supported by the piazza web service. Make sure you set up an account and contact your section TA if you did not get an invitation email.

Access to the course material is protected by password, which will be announced at piazza message board.

B. Workload and Grading

· Projects (30%)

· HWs (30%)

· Midterms (20%)

· Final (20%)

Grading policy for labs and hws:

- labs and hws are due midnight on the specified date

- submitted within 24 hours after the deadline à 20% off

- late by more than a day but less than 3 days à 50% off

- zero points, if late by more than 3 days

C. Class Topics and Lectures

- Digital building blocks [~3 lectures, 1 homework]

- Architecture and HW/SW interface [~5 lectures, 2 homeworks]

- Microarchitecture [~6 lectures, 2 homeworks]

- Memory systems and I/O [~4 lectures, 1 homework]

D. Assignments and Schedule

1. HW assignments

Homework should be done individually. HWs should be scanned and submitted via gradescope web service. You should get an invitation email to enroll in ECE 154A on the gradescope in the second week. Contact your TA asap if you still have problems logging in or did not get an invitation before the end of the second week, i.e. at least one day before the first homework is due.

2. Lab assignments

Lab assignments can be performed in groups of three, so find lab partners asap and, if needed, ask your TA for help with that. Doing it alone or in groups of two is also allowed, though not encouraged. Lab portfolios (code, written report) should be submitted electronically to gradescope by uploading pdf file *AND* providing a hyperlink in the pdf to the code files, if needed. Make sure that the link is clickable. You can also include your code in the pdf report though, in addition to that, make sure that it is accessible via a hyperlink in the original format.

3. Class schedule and reading assignments

All reading assignments are from Harris and Harris book unless noted otherwise

Week #0

- If necessary, read pre-requisite material from Chapters 1-4

- Read Sections 5.1-5.2

Last updated: September 20^th, 2022