IS2202 Computer Systems Architecture 7.5 credits

• Memory hiearchies, hardware for virtual memory management and memory protection
• Software and hardware methods for utilizing instruction level parallelism
• Orientation about thread level parallelism and hardware mechanisms to utilize thread level parallelism
• Orientation about shared memory and memory coherence

The overall objective with the course is to give knowledge and insights into the design of modern computers, in particular the processor design including parallel computational pipelines and advanced memory hierarchies.

The student should, for a passing grade, be able to:

• account for the basic quantitative principles of computer design,
• explain the design and function of microprocessors with parallel computational pipelines and dynamic scheduling of instructions,
• explain the design and function of a memory hierarchy for the above mentioned microprocessor,
• explain the design and function of a multi-core processor with shared address space,
• identify and predict a program behaviour favoured by a certain microarchitecture of a processor,
• design and implement a simple parallel program with shared memory and explain its performance on a certain processor architecture with multiple cores,
• describe how simulation can be used to evaluate different architectural alternatives,
• propose and motivate a modification to a processor architecture which has potential to improve performance with the same power consumption,
• propose and motivate a modification to a processor architecture which has potential to lower the power consumption with the same performance

Bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering or similar where basic couses in computer engineering and programming are included. 

Knowledge in computer organisation corresponding to IS1200 Computer Hardware Engineering.

Access to own computer.

Kurslitteraturen fastställs senast en månad före kursstart och meddelas på kurshemsidan: http://www.ict.kth.se/courses/IS2202.

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

• LAB1 - Laboratory Work, 3.5 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
• TEN1 - Examination, 4.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

Written exam (3,7 hp)
Laboratory exercises on own computer (3,7 hp)

The laboratory exercises may be accounted for orally or written. Peer review of written reports may occur.

The final course grade is a combination of the grade on the written exam and the laboratory exercises.

Johnny Öberg

Artur Podobas

Zhonghai Lu

• All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
• In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
• In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.

In this course, the EECS code of honor applies, see: http://www.kth.se/en/eecs/utbildning/hederskodex.

Access to own computer.