Computer Architecture Essentials on Arm from edX

Whether you’re downloading an app, streaming a video, or clicking a mouse, modern microprocessors are the engines powering your digital life. Arm’s 30-year-plus history of designing energy and power-efficient microprocessors helped fuel the smartphone revolution, and today from the tiniest sensors to the world's most powerful supercomputers, Arm is building the future of computing.

This course will provide you with a deep understanding of the architecture of modern microprocessors. We'll start your learning journey by covering the basics of computer architecture, such as definitions and a description of key components of a microprocessor.

We'll then take a deep dive into important computer architectural concepts and processes. For example, you'll learn how pipelining, branch handling and cache memories can improve the performance of a single-cycle microprocessor. We'll then introduce you to the world of superscalar processors, and how to maximise performance using out-of-order instructions.

Our lab exercises will bring to life the theory discussed in the course through a range of simulation tools.

Along the way, we'll provide you with insights from key engineers at Arm, illustrating how and why certain design choices were made so you’ll have the real-world context behind these pivotal architectural decisions.

With over 250 billion Arm-based chips deployed by our vast ecosystem of partners, Arm technology is present wherever computing happens. Be a part of this thriving community and enrol in Computer Architecture Essentials on Arm today.

This course is aimed at learners who have a basic understanding of computer organisation and programming languages. If you are completely new to the world of microprocessors, we suggest you take our Introduction to Microprocessors course on edX.

What's inside

Learning objectives

An appreciation of the origins of modern microprocessors and the key principles that go into computer architecture design.
An understanding of the fundamentals of pipelining and how it can improve performance.
The importance of branches and how they can be handled efficiently with the use of pipelining.

The impact of memory on processor performance and why caches are necessary.
The organisation of a modern superscalar processor.
An understanding of the benefits and challenges associated with an in-order superscalar processor.

An appreciation of the origins of modern microprocessors and the key principles that go into computer architecture design.
An understanding of the fundamentals of pipelining and how it can improve performance.
The importance of branches and how they can be handled efficiently with the use of pipelining.
The impact of memory on processor performance and why caches are necessary.
The organisation of a modern superscalar processor.
An understanding of the benefits and challenges associated with an in-order superscalar processor.

Syllabus

Module 1 - The Fundamentals of Computer Design

Module 2 - Pipelining

Module 3 - Handling Branches

Module 4 - Cache Memories

Module 5 - Superscalar Processors

Module 6 - Out-of-Order Execution

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Focuses on computer architecture design principles, essential for understanding modern microprocessors

Taught by Robert Mullins, Timothy M. Jones, and Alex W. Chadwick, respected engineers at Arm

Introduces pipelining, emphasizing its importance in enhancing processor performance

Provides deep insights into branch handling, highlighting its impact on processor efficiency

Covers cache memories, emphasizing their role in optimizing processor performance by reducing memory access time

Examines superscalar processors and the techniques used to maximize their performance through out-of-order instruction execution

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Computer Architecture Essentials on Arm with these activities:

Read 'Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach'

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Supplement course material by reading a comprehensive textbook on computer architecture, providing a deeper understanding of the subject.

View Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach... on Amazon

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Read selected chapters related to the course topics
Take notes and summarize key concepts
Complete exercises and review questions to test understanding

Explore Arm's Cortex-A Series Processors

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Familiarize with Arm's popular Cortex-A series processors through online resources and documentation.

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Visit the Arm Developer website and explore the Cortex-A series
Read technical documentation and white papers on specific Cortex-A processors
Watch videos and attend webinars to gain insights from Arm engineers

Cache Memory Practice Problems

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Improve understanding of cache memory and its performance implications by solving practice problems.

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Review the concepts of cache memory
Solve practice problems related to cache hit rates, miss rates, and replacement algorithms
Analyze the performance impact of different cache configurations

Five other activities

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Assist Peers in Understanding Microprocessor Concepts

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Foster a deeper understanding of microprocessor concepts by explaining and assisting peers.

Browse courses on Computer Architecture

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Identify opportunities to help peers in class discussions or study groups
Provide clear explanations and examples to clarify microprocessor concepts
Offer guidance and support in solving practice problems or completing assignments

Simulate Microprocessor Architectures

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Simulate processor architectures to reinforce the concepts of pipelining and branch handling.

Browse courses on Pipelines

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Identify a microarchitecture simulator, e.g., Spike or Qemu
Load a sample microprocessor architecture into the simulator
Run the simulator and observe the execution of instructions
Experiment with different pipeline configurations and branch handling techniques
Analyze the performance impact of different configurations

Branch Prediction Exercises

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Sharpen skills in branch prediction by solving exercises and implementing techniques.

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Review the concepts of branch prediction
Solve exercises involving branch prediction algorithms
Implement a simple branch predictor in a simulated or real microprocessor
Evaluate the performance of the implemented branch predictor

Design a Superscalar Processor

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Deepen understanding of superscalar processor design by creating a conceptual or simulated implementation.

Browse courses on Superscalar Processors

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Study the concepts behind superscalar processors
Design a simplified superscalar processor architecture
Develop a simulation or conceptual implementation of the processor
Evaluate the performance of the processor under various workloads

Develop a Microprocessor Benchmarking Tool

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Design and implement a tool for benchmarking and comparing the performance of different microprocessors.

Browse courses on Computer Architecture

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Research and review existing benchmarking methodologies
Design a comprehensive set of benchmarks that cover various aspects of microprocessor performance
Develop a tool that automates the execution of benchmarks and collects performance data
Analyze and present the results, highlighting performance differences and trends

Career center

Learners who complete Computer Architecture Essentials on Arm will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Professor of Computer Architecture

Professors of Computer Architecture teach and conduct research in the field of computer architecture. This course provides the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to be successful as a Professor of Computer Architecture. Learners will gain a deep understanding of computer architecture, including the design, implementation, and testing of microprocessors.

See salaries and explore the career path for Professor of Computer Architecture

Microprocessor Architect

Microprocessor Architects design and develop microprocessors. This course provides the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to be successful as a Microprocessor Architect. Learners will gain a deep understanding of computer architecture, including the design, implementation, and testing of microprocessors.

See salaries and explore the career path for Microprocessor Architect

Computer Architecture Researcher

Computer Architecture Researchers conduct research on the design and implementation of computer architectures. This course provides the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to be successful as a Computer Architecture Researcher. Learners will gain a deep understanding of computer architecture, including the design, implementation, and testing of microprocessors.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Architecture Researcher

VLSI Design Engineer

VLSI Design Engineers design, develop, and test Very-Large-Scale Integration (VLSI) circuits. This course provides the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to be successful as a VLSI Design Engineer. Learners will gain a deep understanding of computer architecture, including the design, implementation, and testing of microprocessors.

See salaries and explore the career path for VLSI Design Engineer

FPGA Engineer

FPGA Engineers design, develop, and test Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). This course provides a deep understanding of computer architecture, including the design and implementation of microprocessors. This knowledge is essential for FPGA Engineers to successfully design and develop FPGAs.

See salaries and explore the career path for FPGA Engineer

Embedded Systems Engineer

Embedded Systems Engineers design, develop, and test embedded systems. This course helps build a foundation in computer architecture that would be valuable to Embedded Systems Engineers. The course covers topics such as pipelining, branch handling, cache memories, superscalar processors, and out-of-order execution, all of which are important for designing and developing efficient and high-performance embedded systems.

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Computer Hardware Engineer

Computer Hardware Engineers apply the principles of computer architecture to design, develop, and test computer hardware components. This course helps build a foundation in computer architecture that would be valuable to Computer Hardware Engineers, especially those who focus on the design and development of microprocessors.

See salaries and explore the career path for Computer Hardware Engineer

Digital Designer

Digital Designers analyze user requirements to create technical designs for systems that address those requirements. This course helps build a foundation in computer architecture that would be valuable to Digital Designers, especially those who focus on the design of digital systems.

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Systems Engineer

Systems Engineers design, develop, and test computer systems. This course provides a strong foundation in computer architecture that would be valuable to Systems Engineers who focus on the design and development of computer systems.

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Computer Systems Analyst

Computer Systems Analysts study the data processing needs of an organization and create and maintain computer systems to meet those needs. This course provides knowledge of foundational computer architecture concepts that are valuable to Computer Systems Analysts, including the design, development, and implementation of computer systems.

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Technical Support Engineer

Technical Support Engineers provide technical support to users of computer hardware and software. This course provides a deep understanding of computer architecture, which can be valuable to Technical Support Engineers who support users of microprocessors and other computer hardware.

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Software Developer

Software Developers design, develop, and maintain software applications. This course provides insights into the inner workings of modern microprocessors. This knowledge can be valuable to Software Developers as they work to optimize software performance and efficiency.

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Consultant

Consultants provide advice and guidance to clients on a variety of topics. This course may be of interest to Consultants who work in the computer hardware industry, as it provides a deep understanding of the design and implementation of computer architectures.

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Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs start and run their own businesses. This course may be of interest to Entrepreneurs who are interested in starting a business in the computer hardware industry, as it provides a deep understanding of the design and implementation of computer architectures.

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Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for the development and marketing of products. This course may be of interest to Product Managers who work in the computer hardware industry, as it provides a deep understanding of the design and implementation of computer architectures.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager