course-details-portlet

TDT4260 - Computer Architecture

About

Examination arrangement

Examination arrangement: School exam
Grade: Passed / Not Passed

Evaluation Weighting Duration Grade deviation Examination aids
School exam 100/100 3 hours D

Course content

Computer architecture, trends, and quantitative principles. Instruction-level parallelism, out-of-order scheduling, branch prediction, thread-level parallelism, VLIW and examples. Memory hierarchy design. Multiprocessors, thread-level parallelism, synchronization, and multithreading. Graphics processors units (GPUs) and accelerators. Hardware security and side-channel attacks such as Spectre and Meltdown.

Learning outcome

Knowledge: - The student should have a detailed understanding of how high-level building blocks like different varieties of processors, caches, interconnects, etc. should be assembled into a complete computer system. - The student should have a detailed understanding of the construction and mode of operation of modern memory systems. - The student should be familiar with hardware security measures like trusted execution environment. - The student should have a detailed understanding of how multiple processor cores can be assembled into parallel computer architectures. This includes homogeneous and heterogeneous multicore processors and multiprocessors. Skills: - The student should be able to evaluate architectural choices with simulators and draw sensible conclusions based on these studies. - The student should be able to differentiate between general purpose CPUs, general purpose graphic processing units (GPGPUs), and application specific accelerators in terms of their specific advantages and disadvantages. General competence: - The student should be able to leverage his/her knowledge of computer architecture in development projects at all levels of abstraction.

Learning methods and activities

Exercise, mini-project, report writing, peer-evaluation.

Compulsory assignments

  • 2 assignments and 2 peer evaluations

Further on evaluation

Compulsory assignments: Assignment 1, Assignment 2, Peer Evaluation 1, Peer Evaluation 2 need to be approved to get access to the exam.

In the event of a re-sit exam, the examination form may be changed to an oral examination.

The exam will be in English. Students are free to choose Norwegian or English when answering questions on the exam.

Course materials

Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach, by John L. Hennessy, David A. Patterson. Morgan Kaufmann. Eventually additional text announced at the start of the semester. All teaching materials will be in English.

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From To
SIF8064 7.5
DT8803 7.5 AUTUMN 2008
Facts

Version: 1
Credits:  7.5 SP
Study level: Second degree level

Coursework

Term no.: 1
Teaching semester:  SPRING 2025

Language of instruction: English

Location: Trondheim

Subject area(s)
  • Computers
  • Computer Systems
  • Informatics
  • Technological subjects
Contact information
Course coordinator: Lecturer(s):

Department with academic responsibility
Department of Computer Science

Examination

Examination arrangement: School exam

Term Status code Evaluation Weighting Examination aids Date Time Examination system Room *
Spring ORD School exam 100/100 D INSPERA
Room Building Number of candidates
Summer UTS School exam 100/100 D INSPERA
Room Building Number of candidates
  • * The location (room) for a written examination is published 3 days before examination date. If more than one room is listed, you will find your room at Studentweb.
Examination

For more information regarding registration for examination and examination procedures, see "Innsida - Exams"

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