Miami University*
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS DEPARTMENT
SAN278: Computer Architecture
Fall '99 (August 24 - December 17)
Section A: Tuesday/Thursday (T/R) 12:30 pm - 1:45 pm, 135 KRG
INSTRUCTOR : Dr. FAZLI CAN
Office : Kreger 230-H, Phone: 529-5950, e-mail: canf@muohio.edu
Office Hours : T: 3:00-5:00 pm, Wednesday (W): 2:00 - 4:00 pm, R: 3:00 - 5:00 other times by appointment only.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
To learn principles of Von Neumann computer architecture, assembly language programming, data representation
and computer arithmetic, memory addressing and hierarchy, CPU structure and instruction sets, large/parallel processors.
PREREQUISITE
SAN174: Fundamentals of
Programming and Problem Solving (for exceptions you must have my approval).
TEXTBOOK & OTHERCOURSE MATERIAL
Patterson, D. A., Hennessy, J. L. Computer organization & design the hardware/software interface 2nd ed., Morgan Kaufmann,
San Fransisco, CA, 1998.
Please also see the Blackboard material.
IMPORTANT DATES
Monday/Tuesday class exchange day (Monday classes will meet on this day): Sep. 7, Tuesday.
Last day to drop a course without a grade : September 14, Tuesday.
Last day to drop a course with a grade of "W" : October 5, Tuesday.
Last day to drop a course with a grade of "WP" or "WF" : December 10, Friday
EXAM DATES
Exam 1: September 30, Thursday
Exam 2: November 18, Thursday
Final exam (comprehensive): December 14, Tuesday, 12:30 pm, 135KRG.
On-line Quizes: Any time with a deadline
GRADING POLICY
Exam 1: 17%
Exam 2: 18%
Final exam (comprehensive): 30%
On-line Quizes (~10, will ignore lowest two): 5%
Lecture Summary and Q&As: 5%
Assignments (~6) : 25%
------------------------- ----
Total 100 %
Letter grades will be determined according to the following table.
90 - 100 %: A
80 - 89 %: B
70 - 79 %: C
60 - 69 %: D
0 - 59 %: F
GENERAL POLICIES
- You are expected to do your homework assignments alone. Group working will be considered as cheating. You may
discuss your ideas and approaches, but do not walk the line. Group projects will be specified explicitly.
- Your programs will be graded according to their correctness, algorithm design, readability, and neatness of
presentation.
- Your assignments should be turned in on due date. For the late assignments I will deduct 10 points for each
late day. I will count weekends as one day. You can not be late more than three days. In some cases no late assignment
will be accepted (such cases will be announced). Homework problems may be graded selectively (like 1 or 2 problems
out of 5, however you have to solve all of them). The weights of individual assignments may vary.
- If individual review is needed due to a question on the grade (including exams) this must be no later than
one week after receiving your assignment or exam. This time limit is for consistency in grading.
- Regarding debugging of assigned programs: during my office hours I may give you some suggestions for debugging
and coach you to improve your self-confidence on debugging/programming. Please don't expect me to debug your programs.
- Class attendance is mandatory. If you miss a class with an excuse please take the lecture notes from a classmate.
You are responsible from the announcements that I may make in the classroom.
OFFICE HOUR POLICIES
Six office hours per week are reserved to help you. In case I am not able to be in my office during any
office hour period, I will announce alternate hours to make up for them. Please do not assume that I am available
to answer your questions any time you may barge into my office. During office hours, you are welcome to stop by
and discuss your questions with me. If you cannot make it during my hours, you are further welcome to contact me
and make an appointment for a more suitable time.
TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE
| WEEK NO. /DAY |
TOPIC |
READING |
| 1/Aug. 23 |
Computer Abstraction |
Ch. 1 |
| 2/Aug. 30 |
Assembly Process & Performance (AP&P) |
Notes, Ch. 2 |
| 3/Sep. 6 |
AP&P |
Ch. 2 |
| 4/Sep. 13 |
Instructions &Assembly Language Programming (I&ALP) |
Ch. 3, App. A |
| 5/Sep. 20 |
I&ALP |
Ch. 3, App. A |
| 6/Sep. 27 |
I&ALP |
Ch. 3, App. A |
| 7/Oct. 4 |
Computer Arithmetic (CA) |
Ch. 4 |
| 8/Oct. 11 |
CA |
Ch. 4 |
| 9/Oct. 18 |
CPU Structure (CPUS) |
Ch. 5 |
| 10/Oct. 25 |
CPUS |
Ch. 5 |
| 11/Nov. 1 |
CPUS, Pipelining (P) |
Chs. 5, 6 |
| 12/Nov. 8 |
P |
Chs. 5, 6 |
| 13/Nov. 15 |
P, Thanksgiving |
Ch. 6 |
| 14/Nov. 22 |
P, Memory Hierarchy (MH) |
Chs. 6, 7 |
| 15/Nov. 29 |
MH |
Ch. 7 |
| 16/Dec. 6 |
Parallel Processors |
Ch. 9 |
This schedule is subject to change as the semester progresses.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Date of last update: September 16, 1999.
Send comments to the author: 
.
* The announcements section may change every day throughout the semester. The contents
of this page also applies to SAN604.