BMIS 31141

Introduction to Computer Architecture

Faculty of Business and Management

AIMST UNIVERSITY
Course Outline
Semester September 2014
Academic Session 2014/2015
Welcome to BMIS 31141 Introduction to Computer Architecture. This course will help the students to
understand the concept of computer architecture and its I/O operations as well as the hardware
interface.

Credit Value: 03 Prerequisites: None

Learning outcome:

At the end of the course, student will be able to:

An understanding of the history, applications, and importance of computers in society.
Understand the representation of data in a computer.
Provide a comparative overview of multiple computer processors, peripheral devices, instruction set
architectures, and computer memory to identify key functional and performance aspects.
Understand the operation, organization, instruction set and electronic components of a simple
computer.
Understand the variations in computer architecture that arises from different system designs, and
the tradeoffs in performance and capability that result.

Method of Instruction/Delivery

1. 1 or 2 hours of interactive lecture and discussion for each topic.

2. 1 or 2 hours of tutorial sessions will involve exercise questions and group discussions or presentation.

Teaching Panel
Name Room # Ext # Email
Ms. Nor Halwani binti Md Radzi Eng Block
(019-4155715) 2nd Floor 1 8162 waniradzi@gmail.com
 Lecture/Consultation Hours
Mode Time Day Venue
Lecture/Tutorial 8.00-9.00 am Tuesday SRF01
Lecture/Tutorial 4.00-5.00pm Wednesday SRF01
Lecture/Tutorial 2.00-4.00 pm Friday SRT01
Consultation 9.00 11.00am Wednesday/Friday Lecturers Room
Duration
15 Weeks (9 September 2014 19 December 2014)

Course Content

Week Topics Lecture Tutorial Assessment

**********************************************************************************
PART ONE - AN OVERVIEW OF COMPUTER SYSTEMS
**********************************************************************************
Computers and Systems
1 o Components of the Computer System
09/09- o A Brief Architectural History of the Computer 3 - -
12/09/2014
An Introduction to System Concepts and Systems Architecture
o The General Concept of Systems
o IT System Architectures

**********************************************************************************
PART TWO - DATA IN THE COMPUTER
**********************************************************************************
Number Systems
o Numbers as a Physical Representation
2 o Counting in Different Bases
15/09- o Performing Arithmetic in Different Number Bases -
o Numeric Conversion between Number Bases 3 2
19/09/2014
o Hexadecimal Numbers and Arithmetic
o A Special Conversion CaseNumber Bases that are
o Related
o Fractions
o Mixed Number Conversions
Data Formats
o General Considerations
3 o Alphanumeric Character Data
22/09- o Image Data
3 - Quiz 1
26/09/2014 o Audio Data
o Data Compression
o Internal Computer Data Format
Representing Numerical Data
4 o Unsigned Binary and Binary-Coded Decimal
29/09- Representations 3 2 Assignment 1
03/10/2014 o Representations for Signed Integers
o Real Numbers
*************************************************************************************
PART THREE - COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE AND HARDWARE
OPERATION
5 **********************************************************************************
06/10- The LittleMan Computer
10/10/2014 o Layout of the LittleMan Computer -
3 1
o Operation of the LMC
o A Simple Program
o An Extended Instruction Set
o The Instruction Cycle
The CPU and Memory Quiz 2
6 o The Components of the CPU 3 1
13/10- o The Concept of Registers
2
 o The Memory Unit
o The Fetch-Execute Instruction Cycle
17/10/2014 o Buses
o Classification of Instructions
o Instruction Word Formats
o Instruction Word Requirements and Constraints
7 *************************************************************************************
20/10- MID SEMESTER BREAK
24/10/2014 **********************************************************************************
CPU and Memory: Design, Enhancement and Implementation
8 o CPU Architectures Mid Semester
27/10- o CPU Features and Enhancements Examination
o Memory Enhancements 2.5 1
31/10/2014
o The Complete Modern Superscalar CPU
o Multiprocessing
Input/Output
9 o Characteristics of Typical I/O Devices 278
03/11- o Programmed I/O 284
3 1 Quiz 3
07/11/2014 o Interrupts 285
o Direct Memory Access
o I/O Modules
*************************************************************************************
SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER
********************************************************************************** Assignment 2
10 An Introduction to Digital Computer Logics
10/11- o Boolean Algebra 3 1
Assignment 1
14/11/2014
o Gates and Combinatorial Logic Due Date
o Sequential Logic Circuits

System Examples
11 o Introduction
17/11- o Hardware Examples 2 1 -
21/11/2014 o Operating System Examples
o Networking Examples
Instruction Addressing Modes
12 o Register Addressing
- - Quiz 4
24/11- o Alternatives to Absolute Addressing
28/11/2014 o Alternatives to Direct Addressing

13 *************************************************************************************
01/12- REVISION - - -
05/12/2014 *************************************************************************************

14 *************************************************************************************
Assignment 2
08/12- REVISION - -
Due Date
12/12/2014 *************************************************************************************
15
*************************************************************************************
15/12-
REVISION - - -
19/12/2014
*************************************************************************************

Assessment Methods and Types

Assessment Methods Type Percentage

Assignments(2) 10%
Continuous Assessment
Quizzes (4) 10%
Mid-Sem Exam (1) 20%
Exam
Final Exam 60%
TOTAL 100%

Prescribed Texts

Main Text:

3
 1. Irv Englander, The Architecture of Computer Hardware, Systems Software & Networking: An
Information Technology Approach. 4th Edition. John Wiley and Sons 2010

References:
1. M. Morris Mano, Computer System Architecture. Prentice Hall; 3rd Edition. 1992
2. David Harris, Sarah Harris Digital Design and Computer Architecture, Second Edition. Morgan
Kaufmann. 2012