Description: |
Introduction to computer architecture and the layering of hardware/software systems. Topics include instruction set design; logical building blocks; computer arithmetic; processor organization; the memory hierarchy (registers, caches, main memory, and secondary storage); I/Obuses, devices, and interrupts; microcode and assembly language; virtual machines; the roles of the assembler, linker, compiler, and operating system; technological trends and the future of computing hardware. Several programming assignments required. Prerequisites: MTH 150 and CSC 172 |