A Practical Introduction to Computer Architecture

Daniel Page

ISBN 10: 1849968314 / ISBN 13: 9781849968317

Published by Springer London, Springer London, 2011

About this Item

Druck auf Anfrage Neuware - Printed after ordering - It is a great pleasure to write a preface to this book. In my view, the content is unique in that it blends traditional teaching approaches with the use of mathematics and a mainstream Hardware Design Language (HDL) as formalisms to describe key concepts. The book keeps the 'machine' separate from the 'application' by strictly following a bottom-up approach: it starts with transistors and logic gates and only introduces assembly language programs once their execution by a processor is clearly de ned. Using a HDL, Verilog in this case, rather than static circuit diagrams is a big deviation from traditional books on computer architecture. Static circuit diagrams cannot be explored in a hands-on way like the corresponding Verilog model can. In order to understand why I consider this shift so important, one must consider how computer architecture, a subject that has been studied for more than 50 years, has evolved. In the pioneering days computers were constructed by hand. An entire computer could (just about) be described by drawing a circuit diagram. Initially, such d- grams consisted mostly of analogue components before later moving toward d- ital logic gates. The advent of digital electronics led to more complex cells, such as half-adders, ip- ops, and decoders being recognised as useful building blocks.

Seller Inventory # 9781849968317

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A Practical Introduction to Computer Architecture
• Publisher: Springer London, Springer London
• Publication Date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1849968314
• ISBN 13: 9781849968317
• Binding: Taschenbuch
• Condition: Neu

About this title

Synopsis

It is a great pleasure to write a preface to this book. In my view, the content is unique in that it blends traditional teaching approaches with the use of mathematics and a mainstream Hardware Design Language (HDL) as formalisms to describe key concepts. The book keeps the “machine” separate from the “application” by strictly following a bottom-up approach: it starts with transistors and logic gates and only introduces assembly...

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