1 chapter 1 Computer Architecture and Design ECE4480/5480 Computer Architecture and Design Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Instructor: Dr. Charlie Wang

2 chapter 1 Computer Architecture and Design What is in this course ? –In-depth understanding of the inner-operations of a high performance processor, processor evolution, and trade- offs present at the hardware/software boundary »performance/cost/implementation complexity tradeoff in fast/slow operations –experience with the design process in the context of a large complex digital system design »functional specification --> control and datapath --> physical implementation

3 chapter 1 Course Objectives Teach you how to design by leading you through the process of each unit used in modern computers We will finish the whole book and supplement new material for techniques used in newly announced processors such as multithread processors, multi-core processors and I/O buses –textbook “ Computer Organization and Design ; The Hardware/Software Interface “ by Patterson and Hennessy, Morgan Kaufmann Publisher

4 chapter 1 What is Computer Architecture Computer Architecture –Computer architecture = Instruction set architecture plus computer organization –Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) »ISA specifies data types and data structures, storage elements, instruction formats, operation code set, modes of addressing and accessing data items, exceptional conditions –Computer Organization »functions and characteristics of functional units »functional units connections »information flow between functional units »how functional units are controlled »register transfer level description

5 chapter 1 Where is “Computer Architecture and Design”? I/O systemProcessor Compiler Operating System (Windows 2K) Application (Netscape) Digital Design Circuit Design Instruction Set Architecture Datapath & Control transistors Memory Hardware Software Assembler

6 chapter 1 Computer Architecture and Design layout (lowest level)) circuit design digital design datapath & control instruction set proc. and I/O system compiler and firmware operating system application (highest level)

7 chapter 1 Anatomy: 5 components of any Computer Personal Computer Processor Computer Control Datapath Memory (where programs, data live when running) Devices Input Output Keyboard, Mouse Display, Printer Disk (where programs, data live when not running)

8 chapter 1 Computer Architecture Factors affect computer architecture –technology –applications –operating systems –programming languages –history

9 chapter 1 Computer Technology - Dramatic Change! Processor –2X in speed every 1.5 years (since ‘85); 100X performance in last decade. Memory –DRAM capacity: 2x / 2 years (since ‘96); 64x size improvement in last decade. Disk –Capacity: 2X / 1 year (since ‘97) –250X size in last decade.

10 chapter 1 Microprocessor Complexity

11 chapter 1 Performance Trends 2X transistors/Chip Every 1.5 to 2.0 years Called “Moore’s Law”

12 chapter 1 Computer Architecture –is an iterative process to search the space of all possible designs at all levels of computer systems

13 chapter 1 MIPS Instruction Set Architecture Instruction Category –load/store –computational –jump and branch –floating point »coprocessor –memory management –special registers R0 - R31 instruction formats : all 32 bits oprsrtrdshamtfunct oprsrtaddress / immediate opjump target address R - type I - type J - type

14 chapter 1 MIPS Instructions High Level Language program compiler Assembly language program assembler Machine language program lw $15, 0($2); lw $16, 4($2); sw $16, 0($2); sw $15, 4($4);

15 chapter 1 Instruction execution cycle Instruction fetch –obtain instruction from program storage Instruction decode –determine required actions and instruction size Operand fetch –locate and obtain operand data Execute –compute result value or status Result store –deposit results in storage for later use Next instruction fetch

16 chapter 1 Summary Computers have five components –processor : datapath –processor : control –memory –input devices –output devices All memories are not “born” equal –Cache memory : fast, expensive, and placed closer to processor –Main memory : cheap, we can put more main memory Input and output devices –wide range of speed : graphics vs. keyboard –wide range of requirements : speed, standard, cost, etc.