CSCI 6461 Section 12 Fall 2024
CRN 83607
Instructor: Morris
Lancaster (703.400.6408)
Office Hours: After class and by appointment. This Webex link will be used for
office hours that will be established shortly after we begin classes.
Meeting Location: Gelman B103 Wednesdays 6:10PM-8:40PM
COVID Policy: https://compliance.gwu.edu/covid-19-campus-health-and-wellbeing-policy
Announcements:
Class announcements will be placed on this web page.
For detailed class schedule, homework assignments and
downloads of lecture slides
use this Syllabus/Schedule link.
To determine if class will be held,
use the Inclement Weather Closing
Status Link (bottom of web page)
Description:
CSCI 6461. Computer System Architecture. 3 Credits. Concepts in processor, system, and network architectures; architecture of pipeline, superscalar, and VLIW/EPIC processors; multiprocessors and interconnection networks. Cache coherence and memory subsystem design for multiprocessor architectures. Parallel and distributed system architecture; internetworking. Prerequisites: CSCI 1311, CSCI 1112, CSCI 2461 Cited from GWU University Bulletin
Prerequisites:
CSCI 1311 Discrete Structures
CSCI 1112 Algorithms and Data Structures
CSCI
2461 Computer Architecture I
Texts:
|
Author |
Title |
Edition |
|
Kaisler, Stephen and
Lancaster, Morris |
Class
Notes provided online. Primary Source
for study |
Online,
adjusted per required |
|
Rampolla, M. L |
A Pocket Guide to Writing in History |
9th (or any) Edition,
MacMillan Press ISBN-10: 1319113028 ISBN-13
978-1319112025 |
|
Hennessy, John L. and Patterson, David A. (Not required but a good reference) |
COMPUTER
ARCHITECTURE: A Quantitative Approach. |
6th Edition Paperback ISBN: 9780128119051 |
Course Workload/Average amount for guided direct
instruction plus independent learning:
15
weeks of 2.5 hours instruction – online lectures in person for all students
15
weeks of 8.0 hours independent/project work – note that startup 2 weeks may be
more intensive
Assignments and Grades:
Team project, Term Paper, and Final (See table below)
|
Assignment |
Description |
Total
Points |
|
Class session warm up Tests |
|
|
|
Programming Project |
C6461 Computer Assembler |
5%
of overall grade |
|
Programming
Project Part
I |
Basic
part of computer simulator as described in the project handout. |
10%
of overall grade |
|
Programming
Project Part
II |
Part
II of computer simulator project as described in the project handout. Extension of instructions that can be
executed. |
15%
of overall grade |
|
Programming
Project Part
III |
Part
III of the computer simulator project as described in the project
handout. Beginning of performance
improvements |
15%
of overall grade |
|
Term
Paper or Small Reports |
An
original term paper of approximately 15 – 20 pages doubled spaced. Format determined by the Rampolla
text. Topic should be computer
architecture related and should go beyond the depth of the topic area as
covered by the course. Alternatively we may have a series of smaller research papers. For
Development of Term Papers If
English is NOT your primary language, you are encouraged to make use of the
GW Writing Center, http://www.gwu.edu/~gwriter/ |
25% of overall grade (2% is on time submission of topic)
|
|
Final
Exam |
Closed
Book – 2 hours |
25%
of overall grade |
|
|
Total |
100% |
Late Work:
It is
understood that from time to time student schedules will be difficult to manage
and meet. I have a late policy which provides that each student will be allowed
3 late days over the semester without penalty on work. Note that no late work
will be accepted after the last day of classes. If a team project is late, each
student on the team is assessed the same number of late days, based upon the
days late for the project. Note that no
due dates coincide with class dates (except for term paper topic) . After use
of the 3 late days, each deliverable will be assessed at 6% per day late up to
a maximum of 36%. Late
points are
deducted in addition to point deductions for errors and other quality
issues. See syllabus schedule for last day of acceptable work.
Learning Outcomes:
As
a result of completing this course, students will be able to:
1. Describe the functional architecture of various
computer systems and the advances in computer organization that lead to
increased performance.
2. Analyze published materials describing specific
computer system architectures to determine tradeoffs made in their
organizational structure and functions with respect to performance, and
efficiencies.
3. Apply lessons learned from historical successes and
failures in the design of computing systems.
4. Perform comparative analyses of computer
architecture alternatives based on cost, performance, reliability and
efficiency constraints.
University Policy on Religious Holidays:
1. Students should notify faculty during the first
week of the semester of their intention to be absent from class on their day(s)
of religious observance.
2. Faculty should extend to these students the
courtesy of absence without penalty on such occasions, including permission to
make up examinations.
3. Faculty who intend to observe a religious holiday
should arrange at the beginning of the semester to reschedule missed classes or
to make other provisions for their course-related activities
University COVID Policy
Current GWU Policy may be found at https://compliance.gwu.edu/covid-19-campus-health-and-wellbeing-policy. Students should consult this web site for
current status of operations with respect to the GWU COVID response and act
accordingly.
Support for Students Outside the Classroom: Disability
Support Services (DSS)
Any
student who may need an accommodation based on the potential impact of a
disability should contact the Disability Support Services office at
202-994-8250 in the Rome Hall, Suite 102, to establish eligibility and to
coordinate reasonable accommodations. For additional information please refer
to: https://disabilitysupport.gwu.edu/
Mental Health Services: 202-994-5300
The
University's Mental Health Services offers 24/7 assistance and referral to
address students' personal, social, career, and study skills problems. Services
for students include crisis and emergency mental health consultations
confidential assessment, counseling services (individual and small group), and
referrals. https://healthcenter.gwu.edu/mental-health
Academic Integrity Code
Academic
dishonesty is defined as cheating of any kind, including misrepresenting one's
own work, taking credit for the work of others without crediting them and
without appropriate authorization, and the fabrication of information. For the
remainder of the code, see: https://studentconduct.gwu.edu/code-academic-integrity