This unit covers the internal mechanism of computers and how they are organised and programmed. Topics include combinatorial and sequential logic, Boolean Algebra, Karnaugh maps, counters, ripple adders, tree adders, memory/addressing, busses, speed, DMA, data representation, machine arithmetic, microprogramming, caches and cache architectures, virtual memory and translation look-aside buffers, vectored interrupts, polled interrupts, pipelined architecture, superscalar architecture, data dependency, hazards, CISC, RISC, VLIW machine architectures.
2 hrs lectures/wk, 3 hr laboratory/fortnight, 2 hr tutorial/fortnight
This is a technically oriented unit where content in any given week depends strongly on content in preceding weeks. Therefore students should plan and commit a minimum of 8 to 12 hours for personal study every week and should allocate up to 5 hours per week in some weeks for use of a computer. Laboratory work will require preparation before attendance.
The unit content requires a strong focus on understanding content through the semester.
FIT1031 or FIT1001 and FIT1008 or FIT1015
Dr Carlo Kopp
Consultation hours: By appointment
| Week | Activities | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0 | |
| 1 | Intro/History/Background; Boolean Algebra | Tutorial 1 |
| 2 | Karnaugh maps, Hazards; Data Representation | Laboratory 1 |
| 3 | Counters, Adders, Shifters, Sequential Logic | Tutorial 2 |
| 4 | Basic Machine Organisation | Laboratory 2 |
| 5 | Control Unit Design | Tutorial 3 |
| 6 | Instruction Sets and Design | Laboratory 3 |
| 7 | I/O, Interrupts, DMA | Tutorial 4 |
| 8 | Cache Organisation | Laboratory 4 |
| 9 | Mass Storage/Memory Management | Tutorial 5 |
| 10 | CPU Organisation/Pipelined Architectures | Laboratory 5 |
| 11 | Superscalar Architectures | Tutorial 6 |
| 12 | CISC, RISC, VLIW, Other Machine Architectures | Laboratory 6 |
| SWOT VAC | No formal assessment is undertaken in SWOT VAC | |
| Examination period | LINK to Assessment Policy: http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/ academic/education/assessment/ assessment-in-coursework-policy.html |
*Unit Schedule details will be maintained and communicated to you via your learning system.
Examination (3 hours): 60%; In-semester assessment: 40%
| Assessment Task | Value | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| Laboratory Exercises | Total 30% (5% each) | Weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 |
| Tutorial Exercises | Total 10% (1.667% each) | Weeks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 |
| Examination 1 | 60% | To be advised |
Faculty Policy - Unit Assessment Hurdles (http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/staff/edgov/policies/assessment-examinations/unit-assessment-hurdles.html)
Academic Integrity - Please see the Demystifying Citing and Referencing tutorial at http://lib.monash.edu/tutorials/citing/
There are 6 Tutorial Exercises each worth 1.667% of the total mark (assessed).
There are 6 Laboratory Exercises each worth 5% of the total mark (assessed, preparation required).
Tutorials and Laboratories are scheduled in alternating weeks.
Attendance is expected and strongly recommended. This unit is tightly integrated so if students miss a Tutorial or Laboratory they will have difficulty understanding later material.
The criteria used to assess laboratory tasks are:
The criteria used to assess submissions are:
Monash Library Unit Reading List
http://readinglists.lib.monash.edu/index.html
Submission must be made by the due date otherwise penalties will be enforced.
You must negotiate any extensions formally with your campus unit leader via the in-semester special consideration process: http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/equity/special-consideration.html.
It is a University requirement (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/conduct/plagiarism-procedures.html) for students to submit an assignment coversheet for each assessment item. Faculty Assignment coversheets can be found at http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/forms/. Please check with your Lecturer on the submission method for your assignment coversheet (e.g. attach a file to the online assignment submission, hand-in a hard copy, or use an online quiz).
If Electronic Submission has been approved for your unit, please submit your work via the learning system for this unit, which you can access via links in the my.monash portal.
Software:
Logisim software (free)
Xspim/Spim software (free)
Supplementary Reading:
http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~carlo/SYSTEMS/
William Stallings. (). Computer Organization and Architecture: Designing for Performance. (8th Edition) Prentice Hall (ISBN: 13: 9780136073734).
Morris Mano and Charles Kime. (). Logic and Computer Design Fundamentals. (4th Edition) Pearson Prentice Hall (ISBN: 0-13-140539-X).
Non-programmable scientific calculators will be permitted.
Monash has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and to provide advice on how they might uphold them. You can find Monash’s Education Policies at: www.policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/academic/education/index.html
Key educational policies include:
The University provides many different kinds of support services for you. Contact your tutor if you need advice and see the range of services available at http://www.monash.edu.au/students. For Sunway see http://www.monash.edu.my/Student-services, and for South Africa see http://www.monash.ac.za/current/.
The Monash University Library provides a range of services, resources and programs that enable you to save time and be more effective in your learning and research. Go to www.lib.monash.edu.au or the library tab in my.monash portal for more information. At Sunway, visit the Library and Learning Commons at http://www.lib.monash.edu.my/. At South Africa visit http://www.lib.monash.ac.za/.
For more information on Monash’s educational strategy, see:
www.monash.edu.au/about/monash-directions and on student evaluations, see: www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/quality/student-evaluation-policy.html
Based on extensive student feedback in Semester 1, 2011, more tutorial time was requested. Fortnightly tutorials are now two hours (up from one hour).
If you wish to view how previous students rated this unit, please go to
https://emuapps.monash.edu.au/unitevaluations/index.jsp