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.
Minimum total expected workload equals 12 hours per week comprising:
(a.) Contact hours for on-campus students:
(b.) Additional requirements (all students):
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 the minimum specified hours for personal study every week. 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
Monash is committed to excellence in education and regularly seeks feedback from students, employers and staff. One of the key formal ways students have to provide feedback is through the Student Evaluation of Teaching and Units (SETU) survey. The University’s student evaluation policy requires that every unit is evaluated each year. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the surveys. The feedback is anonymous and provides the Faculty with evidence of aspects that students are satisfied and areas for improvement.
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
| 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://intranet.monash.edu.au/infotech/resources/staff/edgov/policies/assessment-examinations/assessment-hurdles.html)
Academic Integrity - Please see resources and tutorials at http://www.monash.edu/library/skills/resources/tutorials/academic-integrity/
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 (if applicable to the unit)
http://readinglists.lib.monash.edu/index.html
Faculty of Information Technology Style Guide
Examination/other end-of-semester assessment feedback may take the form of feedback classes, provision of sample answers or other group feedback after official results have been published. Please check with your lecturer on the feedback provided and take advantage of this prior to requesting individual consultations with staff. If your unit has an examination, you may request to view your examination script booklet, see http://intranet.monash.edu.au/infotech/resources/students/procedures/request-to-view-exam-scripts.html
Types of feedback you can expect to receive in this unit are:
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.monash.edu.au/exams/special-consideration.html
It is a University requirement (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/conduct/student-academic-integrity-managing-plagiarism-collusion-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). Please note that it is your responsibility to retain copies of your assessments.
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:
Important student resources including Faculty policies are located at http://intranet.monash.edu.au/infotech/resources/students/
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 Malaysia 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 Malaysia, visit the Library and Learning Commons at http://www.lib.monash.edu.my/. At South Africa visit http://www.lib.monash.ac.za/.