Parallel Computer Architecture

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Introduction to parallel processing; Memory and input-output subsystems; Principles of pipelining and vector processing; Pipeline computers and vectorization methods; Structures and algorithms for array processors; SIMD computers and performance enhancement; Multiprocessor architecture and programming; Multiprocessing control and algorithms; Example multiprocessor systems; Data Flow computers and VLSI computations; Bibliography; Index.

This book provides basic and practical techniques of parallel computing and related methods of numerical analysis for researchers who conduct numerical calculation and simulation. Although the techniques provided in this book are field-independent, these methods can be used in fields such as physics, chemistry, biology, earth sciences, space science, meteorology, disaster prevention, and manufacturing. In particular, those who develop software code in these areas will find this book useful. The contents are suitable for graduate students and researchers in computational science rather than novices at programming or informed experts in computer science.

Despite five decades of research, parallel computing remains an exotic, frontier technology on the fringes of mainstream computing. Its much-heralded triumph over sequential computing has yet to materialize. This is in spite of the fact that the processing needs of many signal processing applications continue to eclipse the capabilities of sequential computing. The culprit is largely the software development environment. Fundamental shortcomings in the development environment of many parallel computer architectures thwart the adoption of parallel computing. Foremost, parallel computing has no unifying model to accurately predict the execution time of algorithms on parallel architectures. Cost and scarce programming resources prohibit deploying multiple algorithms and partitioning strategies in an attempt to find the fastest solution. As a consequence, algorithm design is largely an intuitive art form dominated by practitioners who specialize in a particular computer architecture. This, coupled with the fact that parallel computer architectures rarely last more than a couple of years, makes for a complex and challenging design environment.

Learn Computer Architecture, Instruction Set Architecture, Processor Design, CISC & RISC Architectue, Pipelining, Memory.