Computer Architecture a Quantative Approach

This book presents the subject in a progressive, incremental manner, bottom-upwards. Starting with digital logic and computer hardware, moving through the layers of software and leading on to an introduction to the field of networking and operating systems.

In the last few decades computer systems and the underlying hardware have steadily become larger and more complex. The need to increase their efficiency through architectural innovation has not abated, but quantitatively evaluating the effect of various choices has become more difficult. Performance and resource consumption are determined by complex interactions between many modules, each with many possible alternative implementations.

Written for students taking their first course in computer systems architecture, this is an introductory textbook that meets syllabus requirements in a simple manner without being a weighty tome. The project is based around the simulation of a typical simple microprocessor so that students gain an understanding of the fundamental concepts of computer architecture on which they can build to understand the more advanced facilities and techniques employed by modern day microprocessors. Each chapter includes a worked exercise, end-of-chapter exercises, and definitions of key words in the margins.

This book deals with a practical approach to defining a system on a chip (SoC) architecture. It is written by practicing industry experts with cumulative five decades of hands-on experience. The book discusses how the system-level design challenges are addressed at the architecture stage and clearly defines different SoC subsystems and components. The book explains the practical method of determining system subsystems in system architectures.