Principles of Computer Architecture

Deals with the functional behavior of a computer systems as viewed by a programmer. Includes aspects such as the sizes of data types and the types of operations that are supported. DLC: Computer architecture.

This piece covers computer architecture at the instruction set architecture (ISA) and system design levels. Starting with foundation material on data representation and computer arithmetic, the book moves through the basic components of a computer architecture, covering topics at increasing levels of complexity up through CISC, network architecture, and parallel architecture. The authors have adopted the use of a SPARC-subset for an instructional ISA called "ARC" (A RISC Computer), which is carried through the mainstream of the book, and is complemented with platform-independent software tools that simulate the ARC ISA as well as the MIPS and x86 (Pentium) ISAs.

FEATURES/BENEFITS

• Choice of the instruction set architecture (ISA).
• The mainstream ISA "ARC" is a subset of the commercial SPARC, which strikes a balance between the complexity of a real-world architecture and the need for a simple instructional ISA.Simulators and assemblers run an PCs, Macs, and Unix.
• Over 400 Adobe Acrobat slides
• Simplify lecture preparation.
• Password-protected area of Companion Website.
• Case studies.
• Over 200 homework problems.
• The major portion of the text deals with a high level look at computer architecture, while the appendices and case studies cover lower level, technology-dependent aspects.
• Allows computer architecture to be studied at all levels.