Computer Organization and Architecture (COA) Syllabus

In this article, we have presented the detailed syllabus of the subject: Computer Organization and Architecture (COA) along with recommended academic text books. This subject is often referred as Computer Architecture (CA).

Following is the complete "Computer Organization and Architecture" Syllabus for B. Tech, B.Sc, M.Sc and M. Tech course in Computer Science:

Computer Organization and Architecture Syllabus
1. Introduction to Computer Architecture
1.1Introduction to Computer Architecture
1.2Flynn’s Classification of Computers
1.3Performance Metrics
(like Latency, throughput)
1.2Fundamental Blocks of Computer
(like CPU, I/O subsystems, memory, control unit)
2. Instruction Set Architecture (ISA)
2.1Introduction to Instruction Set
Types of ISA; RISC, CISC.
2.2Registers
2.3Instruction Execution Cycle
2.4Addressing Modes
2.5Register Transfer Language (RTL)
2.6x86 Architecture
2.7ARM Architecture
3. Memory Hierarchy
3.1Hierarchical memory organization
3.2Types of Cache Memory
3.3Memory interleaving
3.4Replacement algorithms + write policy
3.5Virtual Memory and Machine
3.6Pin Instrumentation and Cachegrind
3.7Advanced Optimizations of Cache Performance
4. Data representation
4.1Data Type Representation
Signed number, fixed, floating point, character
4.2Addition
Ripple Carry Adder, Carry Look-ahead
4.3Multiplication
Shift and Add, Booth Multiplier, Carry Save Multiplier
4.4Division
Non restoring, Restoring
5. Peripheral devices
5.1Types of Peripheral Devices
5.2I/O sub-system + transfer
5.3DMA
5.4Interrupt + Exception
5.5Privileged + Non Privileged Instruction
6. Pipelining
6.1Pipelining
Basics, Types, stalling and forwarding
6.2Throughput and Speedup of Pipelining
6.3Pipelining Hazards
7. Instruction Level Parallelism (ILP)
7.1Instruction Level Parallelism
Introduction, Challenges, Limitations
7.2Compiler Techniques for ILP
7.3Scalar to Superscaler Pipelining
7.4Branch Predictions
7.5ILP for Multi-threading
Increase uni-processor throughput
7.6Branch Predictor using Pin Tool
7.7Out of order execution
7.8Tomasulo Algorithm
7.9Register renaming
8. Thread Level Parallelism (TLP)
8.1Thread Level Parallelism (TLP)
Introduction
8.2Shared Memory Multicore System
Introduction, Performance metrics
8.3Cache Coherence
Introduction, Cache Coherence Protocol
8.4Synchronization
8.5Memory Consistency
8.6Instruction
9. Data Level Parallelism (DLP)
9.1Data Level Parallelism (DLP)
Introduction, Loop Level Parallelism
9.2Vector Architecture
9.3SIMD Instruction Set
Used for Multimedia
9.4Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)
Introduction, GPU Memory Hierarchy
9.5CUDA Programming
Introduction, Code samples

This subject has different course code (like CS6600 in IIT, Madras or CS252 in NIT, Warangal) in different universities and is usually, taught in 2nd year in Bachelor of Technology or Science degree in Computer Science.

Pre-requisites of COA (Computer Organization and Architecture)

Following subjects are the Pre-requisites of COA (Computer Organization and Architecture):

Computer Organization and Architecture (COA)
Pre-requisites
1.Digital Systems
Involve ideas on Digital Computing, Logic gates like AND,
Number systems, Circuit design, Programmable Logic and much more,
2.Assembly Programming

Recommended Text Books

Recommended Text Books for "Computer Organization and Architecture":

Computer Organization and Architecture (COA)
Academic Text Books
1.Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach (5th edition)
by J.L. Hennessy and D.A. Patterson (Morgan Kauffmann Publishers)
2.Computer System Architecture
by M. Morris Mano (Pearson Publication)
3.Inside the Machine: An Illustrated Introduction to
Microprocessors and Computer Architecture
by Jon Stokes (No Starch Press)
4.The Elements of Computing Systems: Building a Modern Computer
from First Principles by Noam Nisan and Shimon Schocken (The MIT Press)

With this article at OpenGenus, you have the complete knowledge of topics in "" which you should master for your examination along with the books you should refer.