Course details

Processor Architecture

ACH Acad. year 2012/2013 Winter semester 5 credits

Current academic year

The course covers architecture of universal as well as special-purpose processors. Instruction-level parallelism (ILP) is studied on scalar, superscalar and VLIW processors. Then the processors with thread-level parallelism (TLP) are discussed. Data parallelism is illustrated on vector processors, SIMD streaming instructions and on graphical processors (SIMT). Parallelization of numerical calculations for GPU is also covered (CUDA). Other specialized processors covered in the course are network processors, DSPs, and low-power processors.

Guarantor

Dvořák Václav, prof. Ing., DrSc.

Language of instruction

Czech

Completion

Credit+Examination

Time span

  • 39 hrs lectures
  • 13 hrs projects

Department

Department of Computer Systems (UPSY)

Subject specific learning outcomes and competences

Overview of processor microarchitecture and its future trends, ability to compare processors and using suitable tools, simulate the influence of changes in their architecture. The knowledge of architecture and hardware support of parallel computation on graphic processors can be directly applied for acceleration of intensive calculations. 

Learning objectives

To familiarize students with architecture of the newest processors exploiting the instruction-level and thread-level parallelism. To clarify the role of a compiler and its  cooperation with CPU. To be able to orientate oneself on the processor market, to evaluate and compare various CPUs. Next to familiarize with architecture of graphical processors and its use for acceleration of numerical calculations (GPGPU), with digital signal processors (DSP) and with low-power techniques in processors for mobile applications.  

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Von Neumann computer architecture, memory hierarchy,   programming in JSI, compiler's tasks and functions

Study literature

Fundamental literature

  • Baer, J.L.: Microprocessor Architecture. Cambridge University Press, 2010, 367 s., ISBN 978-0-521-76992-1.
  • Hennessy, J.L., Patterson, D.A.: Computer Architecture - A Quantitative Approach. 5. vydání, Morgan Kaufman Publishers, Inc., 2012, 1136 s., ISBN 1-55860-596-7. 
  • Kirk, D., and Hwu, W.: Programming Massively Parallel Processors: A Hands-on Approach, Elsevier, 2010, s. 256, ISBN: 978-0-12-381472-2
  • Jeffers, J., and Reinders, J.: Intel Xeon Phi Coprocessor High Performance Programming, 2013, Morgan Kaufmann, p. 432), ISBN: 978-0-124-10414-3

Syllabus of lectures

  • Scalar processors. Pipelined instruction processing and instruction dependencies. Typical CPU architecture.
  • Compiler-aided pipelined processing. Superscalar CPU. Dynamic instruction scheduling, branch prediction.
  • Advanced superscalar processing techniques: register renaming, data flow through memory hierarchy.
  • Optimization of instruction and data fetching. Examples of superscalar CPUs.
  • VLIW processors. SW pipelining, predication, binary translation.
  • Thread-level parallelism. Multithreaded processors, network processors.
  • Data paralelism: vector processors.
  • SIMD ISA extension, GPU and SIMT.
  • Architecture of graphics processing units.
  • Parallel computation on GPU, stream processing, CUDA/OpenCL.
  • Multimedia processors, Cell processor.
  • Signal processors.
  • Low power processors.

Progress assessment

To get 20 out of 40 points for projects and midterm examination.

Controlled instruction

Assessment of three small projects, 4 hours each, and a midterm examination.

Course inclusion in study plans

  • Programme IT-MGR-2, field MGM, 2nd year of study, Elective
  • Programme IT-MGR-2, field MPV, 2nd year of study, Compulsory
Back to top