CS 642 -- Computer Organization and Assembly Language

Course Contents Click Here

So you want to program?  The purpose of this course is not to turn you into a computer designer, but to introduce you to features of modern computers that will have a profound effect on the efficiency of the code that you write.  Intel recognizes the need for programmers to understand the underlying architecture and has published a manual to help you -- Intel Architecture
Optimization Manual -- 24281603.PDF (510Kb).  The introduction states its purpose as:

"In general, developing fast applications for Intel Architecture (IA) processors is not difficult.  An understanding of the architecture and good development practices make the difference between a fast application and one that runs significantly slower than its full potential. Of course, applications developed for the 8086/8088, 80286, Intel386™ (DX or SX), and Intel486™ processors will execute on the Pentium ® , Pentium Pro and Pentium II processors without any modification or recompilation. However, the following code optimization techniques and architectural information will help you tune your application to its greatest potential."

To download the manual Click Here.

The Apple iPod There is an excellent article on the history of the design of the various models of the Apple iPod in Electronic Design magazine.  It is not very technical and is worth reading.  To do so, Click here

Homework Assignments:
           HW 1   Click Here             HW 1 Answers Click Here 
           HW 2   Click Here             For a hint on assignment 2  Click Here
           Last Semester's Midterm with Answers Click Here

Downloadable Items:

The Ternary number system has some unique properties. To Find out what they are click here

New: Errata to Second Edition click here

Logic Simulators:

In order to do the homework assignments for the first part of this course, you will need a logic simulator. Look at the attached to choose one to use: click here

Those of you who have access to LogicWorks should download the complete schematics for the SRC computer that is designed in Chapter 4 of the text.  To do so  click here  When you unzip it, it will produce 2 text files and a file called SRCComp.cct that can be opened in LogicWorks.

Once you have downloaded the 15 MB JRE from the SUN website double click on the icon and and click Accept to complete the installation of the JRE.

Start the simulator by clicking on Start and select “RUN” from the menu. Type the command:
Java -cp {dir}SRCTools.jar SRCTools.SRCSim where {dir} is the full path to the location in which the SRCTools.jar file is located. If you stored the jar file in the “Test” directory on your D drive, the command would be:

Java -cp D:\Test\SRCTools.jar SRCTools.SRCSim

You can store the command in a file called SRCTools.bat on your desktop using Notepad. Don’t forget to put double quotes around the name or Notepad will add .txt after the file name and you won’t be able to execute the file by double clicking on the icon on your desktop.

Once the simulator is executing, click the “Edit” button in the middle of the simulator. This will open up a new window. In the Edit window, click on File and select “Open”. Make your way to the place in which the TSTbr file is located. You will then see the file contents in the window. Click on “Assemble” and then, after the contents of the window has changed, click on Bin > Sim. This will load the assembled program in the simulator. You can click on the Step button in the simulator several times and watch the contents of the registers change.

To download the SRCTools Click Here

To download the the Java Runtime Environment Click Here .

The Lecture Slides are contained in the following ".zip" files. When expanded, each ".zip" file will produce a ".pdf" file that contains the slides for the chapter. I expect to cover Appendices A and C and Chapters 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6.

Appendix A, Appendix C, New Chapter 1, New Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 5, Arithmetic, Minimization, Data Representation

 To view the ".pdf" files you will need to download  Adobe Acrobat if you don't already have it.

Archive Tools:
          pk260w16.exe 09-Jan-98, 707457 Bytes.
                  PKZIP 2.60 for Windows
          sitex10.exe 07-Aug-95, 355024 Bytes.
                  Expands SIT/ZIP/ARJ/ARC/GZ/UUE/HQX/BIN formats

FTP Tools:
          For Windows 95/98
         

Hex File Viewer: Click Here
The viewer uses a file named VBRUN300.dll. Use Find Files under the Windows start menu to see if it is installed on your system. If it isn't, you can download a copy from the Microsoft Download center by clicking the link below. The file must be installed in the path that Windows searches. This means that even if you currently have a copy of the file installed in a directory other than the Windows System directory, Windows may not be able to find it. If you currently have it on your system and Hexview fails to execute, make a copy of the dll and place it in the directory that contains Hexview.exe. If you don't have the dll on your computer and must download it, install it in the same directory into which you downloaded the viewer. To download VBRUN300 Click Here and execute the file.