• Lecture Time and Location: MWF 8:10am - 9:00am =( @ Sproul Hall 1340
  • Discussion (Section 021) Time and Location: Tuesday 2:10pm - 3:00pm @ Pierce Hall 3374
  • Discussion (Section 022) Time and Location: Thursday 4:10pm - 5:00pm @ Life Sciences 2418
  • Instructor: Hodjat Asghari Esfeden
    • Email: hodjat.asghari@email.ucr.edu
    • Office: WCH 459
    • Office Hours: Thursdays 2:00pm - 3:00pm, or by appointment
  • TA: Marcus Chow

  • Homework 4 has been posted. Due Wednesday, June 5, 2019 in class
    Please start early!
  • Homework 3 has been posted. Due Monday, May 27, 2019 (Please submit your HW by 11:59pm to iLearn)
  • Homework 2 has been posted. Due Monday, May 6, 2019 in class
    Please start early!
  • Homework 1 has been posted. Due Monday, April 29, 2019 in class
  • Welcome to CS 161!

Class Webpage and Communication

The class webpage is located at http://hodjat.me/teaching/cs161-s19.

Information, resources, and announcements related to the class will be posted to the webpage.

In addition, we will be using ilearn and piazza for discussions and help.

Course Description

This course covers the relationship between hardware and software, with a focus on computer architecture and design. Topics include instruction set architecture, processor data path design and pipelining, and memory hierarchies.

Prerequisite: CS 120A or EE 120A
Co-requisite: CS161L

Textbook

  • (Optional) Computer Organization and Design, 5th Edition by Patterson and Hennessy

Grade Breakdown

  • Homework: 20%
  • Quizes: 10%
  • Midterm Exam: 35%
  • Final Exam: 35%
  • Participation: 5%

Policies

  • You are responsible for all materials covered in lectures.
  • Late assignments will be assessed 10% penalty per day.
  • Homework assignments can be done either individually or in pairs (write both names).
    The objective is to practice problem solving and design in computer architecture.
  • The solutions to the homework assignments will be discussed in the discussion session.
  • Cheating in assignments, quizzes, projects, and exams are absolutely prohibited.
    The minimum penalty for a violation of the regulations will be a zero for the assignment; the maximum penalty will be failure in the course.
  • Examinations must be taken in class on the day they are given. There will be no exceptions.

Academic Integrity

Here at UCR we are committed to upholding and promoting the values of the Tartan Soul: Integrity, Accountability, Excellence, and Respect. As a student in this class, it is your responsibility to act in accordance with these values by completing all assignments in the manner described, and by informing the instructor of suspected acts of academic misconduct by your peers. By doing so, you will not only affirm your own integrity, but also the integrity of the intellectual work of this University, and the degree which it represents. Should you choose to commit academic misconduct in this class, you will be held accountable according to the policies set forth by the University, and will incur appropriate consequences both in this class and from Student Conduct and Academic Integrity Programs. For more information regarding University policy and its enforcement, please visit: conduct.ucr.edu.

Attendance

You are expected to attend all lectures and discussion. While the slides and readings contain all the information you need to know, some of the contents won't make sense unless you attend lecture. =)


The following schedule is tentative and is subject to change.

Week Week starting Topic Assignments Slides Notes
1Apr. 1Intro/Trends/PerformanceHomework 0Introduction.pptx
Performance.pptx
2Apr. 8ISAISA.pptx
3Apr. 15Single cycleHomework 1ECC.pptx
Single cycle.pptx
4Apr. 22Multi cycleMulti cycle.pptx
5Apr. 29Multi cycle/ReviewHomework 2
Homework 1--Solution
Review.pptx
6May 6Midtrerm/PipelineQuiz 1--Solution
HW 2--Solution
Pipeline.pptxQuiz 1 on May 6th
Midterm exam on May 8th
7May 13PipelineHomework 3
8May 20CacheCaches, Caches, Caches!.pptx
9May 27Virtual MemoryHomework 4
HW 3--Solution
Quiz 2--Solution
VirtualMemory.pptxQuiz 2 on May 29th
10Jun. 3ReviewQuiz 3--Solution
HW 4--Solution
Review.pptxQuiz 3 on June 5th
Final exam on June 7th