Computer Architecture Basics

Welcome to ECS 154B or ECS 201A: Computer Architecture!

This first module briefly introduces the class, motivates computer architecture with an introduction, discusses the current state of technology in this field, and discusses how to evaluate computer systems.

• Class Introduction
• Tests
• Books
  • Assigned readings
  • ECS 154B textbook
  • ECS 201A readings
• Current Computing Technology
• Turing Lecture
• Computing technology past to present
• Moore’s Law and Dennard scaling
• Energy and Power of CMOS Devices
• QUIZ CMOS Energy, Power, and Moore’s Law
• Computer System Performance
• What determines the “value” of a system?
  • Physics is an underlying barrier
• Explaining Computer System Performance
• QUIZ Iron Law
• Comparing Systems with Speedup
• QUIZ Performance and Evaluation

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