581305-6 Computer Organization I, 2 cr

Position in Curriculum

Undergraduate course in Computer Science. Obligatory for cl, elective for minor a.

Course Prerequisites

Basic ideas in programming which are introduced in (e.g.) Java Programming class.

Goal

Understand salient features of a Computer System from the executing program viewpoint: what are the computer system components and how they execute a given program. The emphasis is on the execution of one program at the (symbolic) assembly language level.

The assembly language level operation of a processor is viewed both in general as well as in operational level using a simple example machine (ttk-91), its (symbolic) assembly language, and simulator (KOKSI) that runs assembly language programs developed for that machine. We also look at the operating system role in the program execution.

Methods for Achieving Credit

The course can be taken either as a lecture course, or as a final exam. The course is lectured (at least) every Spring (and also in the Summer by Open University)

The lecture course involves

lectures 4h/week for 6 weeks (only in Finnish, sorry)
practice sessions 2h/week for 6 weeks (possibly one group in English)
course exam (in English when needed)

The final exam can be taken in English, but you need to confirm this with the instructor after you have signed up for the exam.

Course Material

Lecture course:
- Lectures and lecture notes
- Auvo Häkkinen, Tietokoneen toiminta, opetusmoniste D390, Dept of CS, Univ. of Helsinki, 30.1.1998.
  (Chapters 1-6, 8-11)
  Instead of these lecture notes in Finnish, you can use the course material given for Final Exam.
- Auvo Häkkinen, KOKSI simulator.
Final exam:
- William Stallings, Computer Organization and Architecture, 5th Ed., Prentice Hall, 1999.
  (Chapters 7.1-2)
- Andrew S. Tanenbaum, Structured Computer Organization, 4th Ed, Prentice-Hall, 1999.
  (Chapters 1, 2.1-4, 5.1-6, 6.1.1-3, 7.1. 7.3-4)
- You must understand the basic ideas of assembly language programming. It is sufficient to be able to design and implement little programs and subroutines with the ttk-91 symbolic assembly language (see KOKSI simulator.) However, you can use any symbolic assembly language for any (well known) real or hypothetical machine, if you so wish. Confirm any other than ttk-91 assembly language with the instructor before the exam.
  Always check the exam area for a final exams short time before the examination.

Overall Computer System
TTK-91 computer and KOKSI simulator
Pregram representation in system and assembly language programming
CPU and bus basic structure
Data representation and error correction codes
Internal and external memory
I/O implementation and I/O devices
Implementing and executing programs in the system

Teemu.Kerola@cs.Helsinki.FI