CPSC 321: Computer Architecture

CPSC 321: Computer Architecture

Spring 2008

This course gives an introduction to the basic hard- and software components of a computer. It features an introduction to the MIPS assembly language. It covers the design of the basic components of a computer, including I/O modules, memory, control unit and arithmetic-logic unit.

Syllabus

Announcements

01/09/08            ~~There will be no laboratory classes during the first week of classes.~~
01/10/08            During the lab hours in the first week, TAs will help students learn how to use SPIM simulator.
01/14/08            On Next Wednesday (01/23/08), there will be a short quiz.
01/14/08            A peer teacher, Steven Snyder, will attend all the labs to help students. Welcome aboard, Steven!!
01/25/08            Lab3 is released. Check the new Lab and Project page.
02/04/08            Lab4 is released. Check the new Lab and Project page.
02/18/08            Midterm will be on Friday (02/22/08) during the class.
03/07/08            On Mar. 19, there will be a quiz.
03/31/08            If you look for a project team mate, contact TAs as soon as possible.
03/31/08            On April 7 during the class, there will be second midterm. Will cover Slide 6,7,8.
03/31/08            No submission, No grade! Don't forget to submit your work after check-off.
04/01/08            Course grades are now available through elearning.tamu.edu. (Total score. Lab1: 10, Lab2: 65, Lab3: 100, Lab 4: 150, Midterm: 70, Quiz1: 30, Quiz2: 100)
04/11/08            Course grades up to the 2^nd midterm are now available through elearning.tamu.edu. (Total score. Lab4: 150, Lab5: 300, 2^nd Midterm: 100)
04/11/08            Due date for project 2 has been changed. Check the lab web page. But there will be no extension for project 3 due to the university schedule.
04/16/08            New weights for exams (1^st mid-term: 16.6%, 2^nd mid-term: 16.6%, final: 16.6%). Syllabus is updated, too.
04/16/08            Appraisal period just began. Firstly, this will help me a lot. Secondly, you can get additional TWO Points by just completing the on-line evaluation and send me an email to say that you are done!! Two points is great because that is comparable to around 12 points in your 2^nd exam.
04/18/08            Your current grade total is available. Its average is 42.3 out of 66.66. Distribution: ~60: 3, 59~50: 15, 49~40: 11, 39~: 15. But remaining points are 33.33 (Proj2/150*8.33+ Proj3/150*8.33 + final/100*16.66). Don't give up!!
04/27/08           The first due of Project 3 was extended to Sunday night (11:59pm). Note that the second due didn’t change.
04/27/08           There will be no classes next week (4/28 and 4/29).
04/27/08           The final exam scheduled on May 2, 10am~12pm, is cumulative; 30% of old materials and 70% of new topics (pipelining, cache, and virtual memory)
05/14/08           I really appreciate your precious comments. Out of 41 active students who took all the exams and quizzes, 39 students participated in the evaluation. 95%!! By reading your comments carefully, I realized that I could have enhanced the course a lot more if I got early feedback in the mid-term evaluation. Anyway, thank you so much for the good comments because they encourage me a lot enough to maintain my vision to be a university professor sometime in my future, and I also thank you so much for the bad or constructive comments because they will help me improve my teaching when I become a real professor. To be honest, even though it was really tough to prepare every lecture, I really enjoyed this course and loved to meet you guys. Finally, I completely agree with you that 8AM in the morning is the worst part of this class. J I wish all of you will have prosperous future. If you come to San Jose later, you can contact me. I will be willing to buy you a lunch!! See you there…