UNIVERSITY OF KERALA - Marian Engineering College

B.Tech Comp. Sc. & Engg., University of Kerala 76
08.802 COMPUTER SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE 3 – 1 – 0
Module I (16 hours)
Parallel computer models - The state of computing, multi processors and multi computers, multi vector and
SIMD computers, Parallel Random Access Machines and VLSI complexity model, Architectural development
tracks. Program and network properties - conditions of parallelism, system interconnect architectures.
Principles of scalable performance- scalability analysis and approaches.
Module II(18 hours)
Processors and memory hierarchy – advanced processor technology, superscalar and vector processors,
memory hierarchy technology, virtual memory technology. Bus and shared memory - backplane bus systems,
shared memory organizations. Pipelining and superscalar techniques –
linear vs. nonlinear pipelining, instruction pipeline design, arithmetic pipeline design, superscalar and super
pipeline design
Module III(18 hours)
Multiprocessors and multicomputers - multiprocessor system interconnects, cache coherence and
synchronization mechanism, three generations of multicomputers, Intel Paragon system architecture.
Multivector and SIMD computers - vector processing principles, multivector multiprocessors, SIMD
computer organizations. Scalable, multithreaded and data flow architectures - latency hiding techniques,
principles of multithreading, scalable and multithreaded architectures, data flow and hybrid architectures.
Text Books:
1. Advanced Computer Architecture, Parallelism, Scalability, Programmability, 2001 Edn – K. Hwang, TMH.
Reference Books:
1. Computer Architecture and Parallel Processing – K. Hwang & Briggs, McGraw Hill International.
2. Computer Organization and Design: The Hardware/Software Interface, 3 rd Edn – Patterson D. A. and
Hennessy J. L., Morgan Kaufmann
3. Computer Architecture and Organization – H.P. Hayes, McGraw Hill.
4. The Architecture of Pipelined Computer – P.M. Kogge, McGraw Hill.
5. Introduction to Parallel Processing – M. Sasikumar, D. Shikkare, P. Raviprakash, PHI.
6. Computer System Architecture – P.V.S. Rao, PHI.
7. Computer Architecture : Pipelined and Parallel Processor Design – M. J. Flynn, Narosa.
Internal Continuous Assessment (Maximum Marks-50)
25 Marks - Tests (minimum 2)
15 Marks - Assignments (minimum 3) such as home work, problem solving, literature survey, seminar,
term-project, software exercises, etc.
10 Marks - Regularity in the class
University Examination Pattern
PART A: Short answer questions 10 x 4 marks=40 marks
All questions are compulsory. There should be at least three questions
from each module and not more than four questions from any module.
PART B: Descriptive/Analytical/Problem solving questions 3 x 20 marks=60 marks
Candidates have to answer one question out of two or two questions
out of four from each module
Maximum Total Marks: 100