AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Understanding the performance of sequential programs using the notions acquired regarding how current architectures works, i.e. the processor architecture, the memory hierarchies, and the cooperation between hardware and software. Understanding the architecture of GPUs, with reference to applicative areas and performance.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The student will acquire the necessary skills to understand how high-level programmes are executed by modern computers. 

The choice of reference architecture is a key aspect. In continuation of the previous module, the RISC-V architecture has been chosen as it offers a simple, elegant, modern, open source model that is also of growing interest in the non-academic sphere. 

At the end of the course, the student will be able to:

•     analyse the digital components that underpin the architecture of modern computers;
•     describe how simple programs in RISC-V assembler are executed in this architecture;
•     understand how a computer translates a high-level language into machine language;
•     understand how program performance depends on the effective use of architectural features, such as efficient use of cache, vectorisation, and multi-threading programming;
•     use a compiler more effectively by specifying certain flags for code optimisation.

PREREQUISITES

No specific prerequisites are required.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures, classroom exercises, ongoing assignment with delivery and evaluation.
Instant polling will be used for self-assessment and didactics for groups and cases/problems.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Sequential Circuits

• Flip-Flops, Latches, and Registers
• Moore's reference architecture for the synthesis of sequential circuits

Memory Hierarchy

• Memory organization, temporal and spatial locality
• SRAM and DRAM memories
• Basic principles and performance of cache memories

Modern Processors

• Pipelining and hazards in RISC-V architecture
• Word-level parallelism
• Instruction-level parallelism
• Vector processors
• Hardware multithreading
• Introduction to GPUs

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

David A Patterson John L Hennessy
Struttura e progetto dei calcolatori Progettare con RISC-V
Seconda edizione italiana
ISBN: 9788808199669

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

GIORGIO DELZANNO (President)

DANIELE D'AGOSTINO

DAVIDE ANCONA (President Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

According to the calendar approved by the Degree Program Board:  https://corsi.unige.it/en/corsi/11896/studenti-orario

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Guidelines for students with certified Specific Learning Disorders, disabilities, or other special educational needs are available at  https://corsi.unige.it/en/corsi/11896/studenti-disabilita-dsa.

FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information, please refer to the course’s AulaWeb module or contact the instructors.