IS2202 Computer Systems Architecture 7.5 credits

The overall objective with the course is to give knowledge and insights into the design of modern computers, in particular the processor design including parallel computational pipelines and advanced memory hierarchies.
Choose semester and course offering
Choose semester and course offering to see current information and more about the course, such as course syllabus, study period, and application information.
Content and learning outcomes
Course contents
- Memory hiearchies, hardware for virtual memory management and memory protection
- Software and hardware methods for utilizing instruction level parallelism
- Orientation about thread level parallelism and hardware mechanisms to utilize thread level parallelism
- Orientation about shared memory and memory coherence
Intended learning outcomes
The overall objective with the course is to give knowledge and insights into the design of modern computers, in particular the processor design including parallel computational pipelines and advanced memory hierarchies.
The student should, for a passing grade, be able to:
- account for the basic quantitative principles of computer design,
- explain the design and function of microprocessors with parallel computational pipelines and dynamic scheduling of instructions,
- explain the design and function of a memory hierarchy for the above mentioned microprocessor,
- explain the design and function of a multi-core processor with shared address space,
- identify and predict a program behaviour favoured by a certain microarchitecture of a processor,
- design and implement a simple parallel program with shared memory and explain its performance on a certain processor architecture with multiple cores,
- describe how simulation can be used to evaluate different architectural alternatives,
- propose and motivate a modification to a processor architecture which has potential to improve performance with the same power consumption,
- propose and motivate a modification to a processor architecture which has potential to lower the power consumption with the same performance
Course disposition
Literature and preparations
Specific prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering or similar where basic couses in computer engineering and programming are included.
Recommended prerequisites
Knowledge in computer organisation corresponding to IS1200 Computer Hardware Engineering.
Equipment
Access to own computer.
Literature
Kurslitteraturen fastställs senast en månad före kursstart och meddelas på kurshemsidan: http://www.ict.kth.se/courses/IS2202.
Examination and completion
If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.
Grading scale
Examination
- LAB1 - Laboratory Work, 3.5 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
- TEN1 - Examination, 4.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.
The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.
Other requirements for final grade
Written exam (3,7 hp)
Laboratory exercises on own computer (3,7 hp)
The laboratory exercises may be accounted for orally or written. Peer review of written reports may occur.
The final course grade is a combination of the grade on the written exam and the laboratory exercises.
Opportunity to complete the requirements via supplementary examination
Opportunity to raise an approved grade via renewed examination
Examiner
Ethical approach
- All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
- In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
- In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.
Further information
Course web
Further information about the course can be found on the Course web at the link below. Information on the Course web will later be moved to this site.
Course web IS2202Offered by
Main field of study
Education cycle
Add-on studies
Supplementary information
In this course, the EECS code of honor applies, see: http://www.kth.se/en/eecs/utbildning/hederskodex.
Access to own computer.