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Dr. Shaveta Thakral

This is a basic course on Computer Organization and Architecture . This course is meant for Engineering Students of Electrical, Electronics & Communication, Computer Science and This course is not only beneficial for students to earn credits as a part of their course curriculum but also score well in competitive exams.  The Complete Course is divided into Five Sections. Section-1 Covers Differences between Computer Organization and Architecture, Functional Blocks of Computer, Register Organization of Section-2 covers Data Representation of Signed numbers, Fixed and Floating Point Numbers and Characters, Computer Arithmetic, Ripple Carry Adder, Carry Look Ahead Adder, Multiplication by Shift & Add, Booth’s Algorithm, Multiplication by Carry Save addition, Restoring Division Algorithm, Non Restoring Division Algorithm. Section-3 Covers Peripheral Devices and their characteristics: Input-Output Subsystems, I/O Device Interface, I/O transfers – Program Controlled, Interrupt Driven and DMA, Privileged and Non-Privileged Instructions, Software Interrupts and Exceptions, Programs and Processes – Role of Interrupts in Process State Transitions, I/O Device Interfaces –Section-4 Covers Basic concepts of Pipelining, Throughput and Speedup, Pipeline Hazards, Introduction to Parallel Processors, Concurrent access to Memory and Cache Coherency. Section-5 covers Memory Organization, Memory Interleaving, Concept of Hierarchical Memory Organization, Cache Memory, Cache Size vs. Block Size, Mapping Functions, Replacement Algorithms, Write Policies.

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What's inside

Learning objective

Computer organization and architecture

Syllabus

The students will be able to understand computer architecture vs. Organization, Functional blocks of a computer and Register Organization of CPU.
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Students will be able to understand difference between computer Organization & Architecture, Functional blocks of Computer and Register Organization of CPU.

Students will learn CPU Organization : General Register Organization, Single Accumulator Organization and Stack organization with Zero, one, two and three address instructions.

Students will be able to learn various addressing modes of microprocessor : Implied, direct, Indirect, Immediate, Register, Register Indirect, Auto Increment, Auto Decrement, Indexed, Base Register addressing modes with example.

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Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Develops core computer engineering concepts such as computer arithmetic and number systems
Examines memory organization, pipelining, and parallel processing, which are important topics in modern computer engineering
Builds a strong foundation for students of electrical, electronics, and communication engineering, as well as computer science
Provides a comprehensive overview of computer organization and architecture, suitable for beginners
Covers I/O devices, interrupts, and memory management, which are essential concepts for computer engineering
Taught by Dr. Shaveta Thakral, an experienced instructor in the field

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Reviews summary

Essential foundations of computer architecture

According to students, this course provides a positive and comprehensive understanding of Computer Organization and Architecture. Learners highlight its effectiveness in building a strong foundational knowledge, making it particularly useful for engineering students and those preparing for competitive exams. The course's explanations of complex topics like pipelining and memory organization are frequently cited as clear and well-structured. However, some learners note a warning regarding the course's theoretical focus, suggesting a potential lack of hands-on activities or practical application. The pacing can be challenging for those without prior exposure, requiring dedicated study.
Excellent for building a solid foundation for competitive exams.
"This course solidified my understanding of how computers actually work at a fundamental level, which is great for my competitive exam prep."
"It's an excellent foundation for anyone pursuing higher studies or a career in computer engineering, and particularly helpful for exams."
"I now have a much clearer understanding of CPU organization and memory hierarchy, which has significantly boosted my confidence for exams."
Complex concepts are presented with remarkable clarity.
"The instructor did a great job explaining complex concepts like pipelining and cache coherency, making them understandable."
"I found the explanations of data representation and computer arithmetic surprisingly clear, which are often tough subjects to grasp."
"The way the material was presented made it significantly easier to grasp these challenging computer architecture topics for me."
Thoroughly covers all core computer architecture topics.
"I feel the course provides a very comprehensive overview of Computer Organization and Architecture, touching all key aspects."
"It covers all the essential topics from functional blocks to memory management in detail, which is exactly what I needed for my studies."
"I appreciate how broad the curriculum is, encompassing everything needed for a solid foundational understanding of the subject."
Pacing can be fast, requiring diligent self-study.
"For me, the pacing was a bit too fast in certain sections, especially without much prior exposure to these concepts."
"I found some topics rushed through, requiring me to spend extra time researching outside materials to fully understand them."
"It's a very comprehensive course, but also very dense; be prepared to invest considerable study time to absorb everything."
Strongly theoretical, may lack hands-on practical application.
"I wish there were more practical examples or hands-on labs to apply the theoretical knowledge learned in this course."
"While the theory is strong, I felt a bit lost on how to translate these abstract concepts into real-world applications or projects."
"The course felt very academic; I would have preferred more practical projects to reinforce the learning and bridge theory with practice."

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 Organization and Architecture with these activities:
Read 'Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach' by Hennessy and Patterson
This book provides a comprehensive overview of computer architecture, covering topics such as functional units, instruction sets, memory hierarchies, and pipelining.
Show steps
  • Read the assigned chapters thoroughly.
  • Take notes and highlight important concepts.
  • Complete the end-of-chapter exercises.
Create a comprehensive study guide by summarizing lecture notes, assignments, and quizzes
Consolidating your learning materials into a single study guide will help you prepare effectively for exams and assessments.
Show steps
  • Review lecture notes, assignments, and quizzes.
  • Extract key concepts and organize them logically.
  • Use different colors, fonts, and visual aids to enhance readability.
Join a study group to discuss computer organization and architecture concepts
Engaging with peers in a study group can enhance your understanding and provide different perspectives on the subject matter.
Browse courses on Computer Organization
Show steps
  • Find a study group or create one with classmates.
  • Set regular meeting times and stick to them.
  • Take turns presenting concepts and leading discussions.
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Test your understanding of I/O device interfacing
Input/output device interfacing is vital for communication between the computer and its peripherals. Practice drills will help reinforce your understanding of this process.
Show steps
  • Solve a problem scenario involving I/O device interfacing.
  • Create a diagram of an I/O device interface.
  • Write a short explanation of how I/O transfers work.
Practice problem solving with the Ripple Carry Adder and Carry Look Ahead Adder
Arithmetic operations are essential in computer architecture. Practicing drills on these adders will increase your understanding and proficiency in this skill.
Show steps
  • Start with a basic problem using the Ripple Carry Adder.
  • Review the steps involved in performing addition using the Ripple Carry Adder.
  • Move on to a more complex problem and solve it using the Ripple Carry Adder.
  • Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the Carry Look Ahead Adder.
Build a simple computer simulator to demonstrate the concepts of pipelining
Hands-on experience with pipelining will solidify your understanding of this fundamental concept in computer architecture.
Browse courses on Pipelining
Show steps
  • Choose a programming language and environment.
  • Design the architecture of your simulator.
  • Implement the pipeline stages.
  • Test and debug your simulator.
Explore more about cache memory and its role in hierarchical memory organization
Cache memory plays a crucial role in optimizing system performance. This tutorial will help you gain a deeper understanding of its operation and how it fits into the overall memory hierarchy.
Browse courses on Cache Memory
Show steps
  • Watch a video tutorial on cache memory fundamentals.
  • Read an article or blog post on different cache mapping techniques.
  • Try out a hands-on simulation of a cache memory system.
Develop a presentation on the evolution of computer architectures
Tracing the evolution of computer architectures will give you a broader perspective on the field and help you appreciate the advancements made over time.
Browse courses on Computer Organization
Show steps
  • Research the topic and gather relevant information.
  • Organize the information into a logical flow.
  • Create high-quality visuals to support your presentation.
  • Practice presenting your findings.

Career center

Learners who complete Computer Organization and Architecture will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Computer Architect
A Computer Architect designs and develops the architecture of computer systems. This role typically requires a master's degree in computer architecture or a related field. This course may be useful to someone in this role as it provides a comprehensive overview of computer architecture, including topics such as functional blocks of a computer, data representation, and memory organization.
Computer Engineer
A Computer Engineer designs, develops, and tests computer hardware and software. This role typically requires a bachelor's degree in computer engineering or a related field. This course may be useful to someone in this role as it provides a foundation in computer architecture, data representation, and memory organization.
Electrical Engineer
An Electrical Engineer designs, develops, and tests electrical systems. This role typically requires a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or a related field. This course may be useful to someone in this role as it provides a foundation in computer architecture and data representation.
Computer Hardware Engineer
A Computer Hardware Engineer designs, develops, and tests computer hardware components. This role typically requires a master's degree. This course's coverage of computer architecture, data representation, and memory organization may be useful to someone in this role.
Network Administrator
A Network Administrator manages and maintains an organization's computer networks. This role typically requires a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. This course's coverage of computer architecture, I/O device interfaces, and network protocols may be useful to someone in this role.
Software Developer
A Software Developer designs, develops, and maintains software applications. This role typically requires a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. This course's coverage of computer architecture, instruction formats, and pipelining may be useful to someone in this role.
Systems Administrator
A Systems Administrator manages and maintains an organization's computer systems and networks. This role typically requires a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. This course's coverage of computer architecture, I/O device interfaces, and network protocols may be useful to someone in this role.
Web Developer
A Web Developer designs, develops, and maintains websites. This role typically requires a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. This course's coverage of computer architecture, instruction formats, and pipelining may be useful to someone in this role.
Operations Research Analyst
An Operations Research Analyst uses mathematical and analytical methods to improve the efficiency of an organization's operations. This role typically requires a master's degree in operations research, industrial engineering, or a related field. This course's coverage of computer architecture, data representation, and pipelining may be useful to someone in this role.
Computer Software Engineer
A Computer Software Engineer applies the principles of computer science and software engineering to the design, development, maintenance, and evaluation of computer software and software systems. This course's coverage of computer architecture, instruction formats, and pipelining may be useful to someone in this role.
Database Administrator
A Database Administrator designs, implements, and maintains databases. This role typically requires a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. This course's coverage of memory organization, cache memory, and mapping functions may be useful to someone in this role.
Information Security Analyst
An Information Security Analyst plans and implements security measures to protect an organization's computer systems and networks. This role typically requires a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. This course's coverage of computer architecture, I/O device interfaces, and cache coherency may be useful to someone in this role.
Technical Writer
A Technical Writer creates and maintains technical documentation, such as user manuals, white papers, and training materials. This role typically requires a bachelor's degree in English, technical writing, or a related field. This course's coverage of computer architecture, data representation, and memory organization may be useful to someone in this role.
Computer Systems Analyst
A Computer Systems Analyst studies an organization's current computer systems and procedures, and designs the best solutions for any improvements that need to be made to help the organization operate more efficiently. This course's coverage of the functional blocks of a computer, computer arithmetic, and I/O device interfaces may be useful to someone in this role.
Data Analyst
A Data Analyst gathers, cleans, and analyzes data to extract meaningful insights. This course's coverage of data representation, computer arithmetic, and memory organization may be useful to someone in this role.

Reading list

We've selected six books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Computer Organization and Architecture.
Provides both a historical and a quantitative perspective on computer architecture, covering topics such as performance evaluation, pipelining, and memory hierarchies. It valuable resource for students who want to learn more about the design and performance of computers.
Provides a comprehensive overview of digital design and computer architecture, covering topics such as logic gates, sequential circuits, and embedded systems. It valuable resource for students who want to learn more about the hardware side of computers.
This textbook provides a comprehensive overview of computer architecture and parallel processing. It covers topics such as the different types of computer architectures, the different types of parallel processing architectures, and the different techniques that can be used to improve performance.
Provides a comprehensive overview of computer organization and architecture, covering topics such as the functional blocks of a computer, data representation, and instruction sets. It valuable resource for students who want to learn more about the inner workings of computers.
This textbook provides a thorough introduction to computer architecture and organization. It is suitable for both undergraduate and graduate students and covers a wide range of topics, from basic logic gates to advanced pipelining techniques.
Provides a practical guide to computer systems performance analysis. It covers topics such as performance metrics, measurement techniques, and modeling and simulation.

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