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A Practical Introduction to Computer Architecture

  • Textbook
  • © 2009
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Overview

Authors:
  1. Daniel Page

    1. Dept. Computer Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom

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  • Provides a practically driven approach to teaching computer architecture, while still offering breadth and continuity to the reader
  • Inclusion of mathematical preliminaries, enforces the linkage between the theory and practice
  • Uses Verilog as a means to bridge the gap between a high-level, systems architecture approach and a low-level, digital logic approach, offering a level of integration between the topics

Part of the book series: Texts in Computer Science (TCS)

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Table of contents (14 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages I-XXII
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  2. Tools and Techniques

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
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    2. Mathematical Preliminaries

      • Daniel Page
      Pages 3-42
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    3. Basics of Digital Logic

      • Daniel Page
      Pages 43-95
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    4. Hardware Design Using Verilog

      • Daniel Page
      Pages 97-139
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  3. Processor Design

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 141-141
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    2. A Historical and Functional Perspective

      • Daniel Page
      Pages 143-167
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    3. Basic Processor Design

      • Daniel Page
      Pages 169-212
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    4. Measuring Performance

      • Daniel Page
      Pages 213-221
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    5. Arithmetic and Logic

      • Daniel Page
      Pages 223-267
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    6. Memory and Storage

      • Daniel Page
      Pages 269-330
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    7. Advanced Processor Design

      • Daniel Page
      Pages 331-393
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  4. The Hardware/Software Interface

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 395-395
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    2. Linkers and Assemblers

      • Daniel Page
      Pages 397-450
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    3. Compilers

      • Daniel Page
      Pages 451-493
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    4. Operating Systems

      • Daniel Page
      Pages 495-534
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    5. Efficient Programming

      • Daniel Page
      Pages 535-557
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  5. Appendices

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 559-559
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    2. SPIM: A MIPS32 Simulator

      • Daniel Page
      Pages 561-628
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  6. Back Matter

    Pages 529-641
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Keywords

About this book

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.

Reviews

From the reviews:

"The first impression is that the book tries to cover all aspects of computer design. … To summarize, the book lives up to its title. It is a practical and interesting introduction to computer architecture. … It is a good reference book that could be used as a guide in a computer architecture curriculum." (Javier Castillo, ACM Computing Reviews, August, 2009)

“Page … has tried to include ‘topics every computer science student should have at least a basic grasp of.’ … The book is clearly written and technically accurate. The exercises are good, with extensive solutions provided. The volume admirably serves its goal of offering a comprehensive introduction to computer science. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates, two-year technical program students, research/faculty, practitioners, and general readers.” (C. Vickery, Choice, Vol. 47 (4), December, 2009)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Dept. Computer Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom

    Daniel Page

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: A Practical Introduction to Computer Architecture

  • Authors: Daniel Page

  • Series Title: Texts in Computer Science

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-256-6

  • Publisher: Springer London

  • eBook Packages: Computer Science, Computer Science (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Springer-Verlag London 2009

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-84882-255-9Published: 21 April 2009

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-1-84996-831-7Published: 04 February 2011

  • eBook ISBN: 978-1-84882-256-6Published: 14 April 2009

  • Series ISSN: 1868-0941

  • Series E-ISSN: 1868-095X

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XXII, 642

  • Number of Illustrations: 162 b/w illustrations

  • Topics: Computer Hardware, Arithmetic and Logic Structures, Processor Architectures

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