Course

Computer Systems Design and Architecture

Important Notice

This course is not active. Please contact Department Chair for more information.

Faculty
Science & Technology
Department
Computing Science
Course code
CMPT 2250
Credits
3.00
Semester length
15
Max class size
Lecture 25, Laboratory 25
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Lab
Typically offered
To be determined

Overview

Course description
This course introduces computer systems design and architecture. It begins with a review of the main digital circuit building blocks in a computer, the basic structure of a single bus computer, assembly language, and addressing modes. These concepts are formally extended by considering various architectures such as RISC and CISC and the relationship between the machine language and the architecture. Processor design in the context of pipelining, horizontal and vertical microprogramming, the ALU, and the memory is considered in depth.
Course content
  1. Components and Structure of a Computer

1.1.     Registers, Counters, ALU

1.2.     CPU structure

1.2.1.  Harvard versus Princeton Architecture

1.2.2.  Reduced Instruction Set Computers versus Complex Instruction Set Computer

1.2.3.  Metrics for the comparison of processors

1.3.     Control Unit

1.3.1.  Finite State machines

1.3.2.  Micro-programming

1.4.     Advanced Computer Architectural Designs

1.4.1.  Pipelines, branch prediction

 

  1. Advanced Assembly Language Concepts

2.1.     Macros, interrupts, system stack for parameter passing

2.2.     I/O programming and interfacing

2.3.     Multi-tasking

Learning activities

There are three components to the course: lectures, labs., and assignments. 

 

The lecture is used to introduce new material; usually via a sequence of theoretical concepts, examples, and practical considerations. The book is to be used as a close adjunct to the lecture notes and examples.

 

The two hour weekly lab. is used for the teaching  and evaluation of processor, ALU, and memory designs, circuits using the software product LogicWorks and assembly language programs.

 

Assignments include, but are not limited to, logic designs some using LogicWorks others using VHDL or C++, microprograms and assembly language programs.

Means of assessment

Evaluation will be carried out in accordance with Douglas College Policy.  The final grade will be calculated from a particular distribution from the range below.  The exact distribution will be given to the student on the first day of classes along with the course outline.

 

labs. (6 to 12)                                                 15% - 30%

projects/assignments (1 to  6)                           25% - 40%

tests (1 to 2) @ 15% - 25% each                       15% - 50%

final examination                                             20% - 40%

class participation1                                               0% - 5%

 

Note #1:  participation includes (but is not limited to) short pop quizzes and/or handing-in (part-of) a homework assignment

Learning outcomes

The student should be able to:

 

  • demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the machine language and the computer hardware in the context of functionality and complexity by
    • designing and implementing programs in machine and assembly language
    • functionally describing architectural support for operating systems and programming languages such as heaps, stacks, and task switching
    • describing the function of the hardware using a formal description language such as RTN (Register Transfer Notation)
    • virtually simulating the hardware functions
      • using a high level language such as VHDL, Verilog, or C++
      • using a logic circuit simulator such as LogicWorks
    • quantitatively describing the complexity and speed of various architectural components using mathematical functional notation and timing diagrams
  • understand numbers of various bases and operations to be done on them by
    • mathematically defining fixed point and floating point numbers
    • designing arithmetic circuits or algorithms used to implement addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division
  • understand the concept of microprogramming demonstrated by
    • describing the hardware using LogicWorks
    • implementing, using either a horizontal or vertical microprogramming architecture, some instructions
  • functionally describe at the hardware level various computer architectures such as
    • RISC versus CISC
    • one bus versus multi bus organizations
    • the concepts of parallelism and pipelining
  • describe at the hardware and software level techniques for
    • Input and Output devices and their interface
Textbook materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students:

 

  • Portfolio for logic design assignments
  • Two 3½” high density diskettes

Requisites

Prerequisites

CMPT 1150 with a minimum grade of C

Corequisites

No corequisite courses.

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers to Other Institutions

Below are current transfer agreements from Douglas College to other institutions for the current course guidelines only. For a full list of transfer details and archived courses, please see the BC Transfer Guide.

Institution Transfer details for CMPT 2250
There are no applicable transfer credits for this course.

Course Offerings

There are no course offerings this semester.