Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which class of computers is primarily used for high-end scientific and engineering calculations?
Which class of computers is primarily used for high-end scientific and engineering calculations?
Personal Mobile Devices (PMD) are generally not battery operated.
Personal Mobile Devices (PMD) are generally not battery operated.
False
What determines program performance?
What determines program performance?
Algorithm, programming language, compiler, architecture, processor, memory system, and I/O system.
The ______ translates high-level language code into machine code.
The ______ translates high-level language code into machine code.
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Match the following classes of computers with their descriptions:
Match the following classes of computers with their descriptions:
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What is cloud computing?
What is cloud computing?
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Which of the following is NOT one of the seven great ideas in computer architecture?
Which of the following is NOT one of the seven great ideas in computer architecture?
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Which of the following are classes of computers?
Which of the following are classes of computers?
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What characterizes supercomputers?
What characterizes supercomputers?
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What are PMDs?
What are PMDs?
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What aspect of program performance does the hardware/software interface influence?
What aspect of program performance does the hardware/software interface influence?
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What principle does 'performance via parallelism' relate to?
What principle does 'performance via parallelism' relate to?
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Embedded computers are often visible and easy to access.
Embedded computers are often visible and easy to access.
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What are the two main categories of software?
What are the two main categories of software?
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The ________ translates high-level language code to machine code.
The ________ translates high-level language code to machine code.
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List one of the seven great ideas in computer architecture.
List one of the seven great ideas in computer architecture.
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Which of the following is NOT a component of a computer's hardware?
Which of the following is NOT a component of a computer's hardware?
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Study Notes
The Computer Revolution
- Progress in computer technology driven by domain-specific accelerators.
- Expansion into novel applications such as automobiles, cell phones, human genome projects, the World Wide Web, and search engines.
- Ubiquity of computers in everyday life.
Classes of Computers
- Personal Computers: General-purpose systems accommodating various software, balancing cost and performance.
- Server Computers: Network-centric with high capacity, performance, and reliability; sizes range from small servers to massive, building-sized units.
- Supercomputers: Specialized servers focused on high-end scientific and engineering calculations; represent a small fraction of the computer market yet possess the highest capabilities.
- Embedded Computers: Integrated discreetly within other systems, designed with tight power, performance, and cost requirements.
The PostPC Era
- Personal Mobile Devices (PMD): Battery-operated devices that access the Internet, including smartphones, tablets, and electronic glasses, usually costing hundreds of dollars.
- Cloud Computing: Utilization of warehouse scale computers (WSC), where software functions are distributed between PMDs and cloud services. Major players include Amazon and Google.
Learning Objectives
- Understanding the translation of programs into machine language and execution by hardware.
- Insight into the hardware/software interface.
- Factors influencing program performance and strategies for enhancement.
- Knowledge of hardware design principles for performance improvement.
- Introduction to the concept of parallel processing.
Understanding Performance
- Algorithm: Guides the number of operations a program executes.
- Programming Elements: Language, compiler, and architecture affect the number of machine instructions required per operation.
- Processor and Memory: Speed of instruction execution is determined here.
- I/O Systems: Efficiency of I/O operations, influenced by the operating system.
Seven Great Ideas in Computer Architecture
- Use abstraction to simplify complex designs.
- Optimize performance by making common tasks faster.
- Enhance performance through parallel processing and pipelining.
- Implement prediction techniques to improve execution speed.
- Establish memory hierarchies to manage data effectively.
- Incorporate redundancy for increased system dependability.
Below Your Program
- Application Software: Developed in high-level languages close to user requirements.
-
System Software:
- Compilers: Convert high-level language code into machine language.
- Operating Systems: Provide services like I/O handling, memory management, and task scheduling.
- Hardware Components: Include processors, memory, and I/O controllers.
Levels of Program Code
- High-Level Language: Abstracted format that increases productivity and portability.
- Assembly Language: Text-based representation of machine instructions.
- Hardware Representation: Utilizes binary digits (bits) for encoding instructions and data.
Components of a Computer
- Fundamental components are uniform across types, including desktops, servers, and embedded systems.
- Input/Output: Encompasses user interface devices like displays, keyboards, and mice, along with storage devices such as hard disks, CDs/DVDs, and flash drives.
- Network Adapters: Facilitate connectivity and communication between devices.
The Computer Revolution
- Progress in computer technology driven by domain-specific accelerators.
- Expansion into novel applications such as automobiles, cell phones, human genome projects, the World Wide Web, and search engines.
- Ubiquity of computers in everyday life.
Classes of Computers
- Personal Computers: General-purpose systems accommodating various software, balancing cost and performance.
- Server Computers: Network-centric with high capacity, performance, and reliability; sizes range from small servers to massive, building-sized units.
- Supercomputers: Specialized servers focused on high-end scientific and engineering calculations; represent a small fraction of the computer market yet possess the highest capabilities.
- Embedded Computers: Integrated discreetly within other systems, designed with tight power, performance, and cost requirements.
The PostPC Era
- Personal Mobile Devices (PMD): Battery-operated devices that access the Internet, including smartphones, tablets, and electronic glasses, usually costing hundreds of dollars.
- Cloud Computing: Utilization of warehouse scale computers (WSC), where software functions are distributed between PMDs and cloud services. Major players include Amazon and Google.
Learning Objectives
- Understanding the translation of programs into machine language and execution by hardware.
- Insight into the hardware/software interface.
- Factors influencing program performance and strategies for enhancement.
- Knowledge of hardware design principles for performance improvement.
- Introduction to the concept of parallel processing.
Understanding Performance
- Algorithm: Guides the number of operations a program executes.
- Programming Elements: Language, compiler, and architecture affect the number of machine instructions required per operation.
- Processor and Memory: Speed of instruction execution is determined here.
- I/O Systems: Efficiency of I/O operations, influenced by the operating system.
Seven Great Ideas in Computer Architecture
- Use abstraction to simplify complex designs.
- Optimize performance by making common tasks faster.
- Enhance performance through parallel processing and pipelining.
- Implement prediction techniques to improve execution speed.
- Establish memory hierarchies to manage data effectively.
- Incorporate redundancy for increased system dependability.
Below Your Program
- Application Software: Developed in high-level languages close to user requirements.
-
System Software:
- Compilers: Convert high-level language code into machine language.
- Operating Systems: Provide services like I/O handling, memory management, and task scheduling.
- Hardware Components: Include processors, memory, and I/O controllers.
Levels of Program Code
- High-Level Language: Abstracted format that increases productivity and portability.
- Assembly Language: Text-based representation of machine instructions.
- Hardware Representation: Utilizes binary digits (bits) for encoding instructions and data.
Components of a Computer
- Fundamental components are uniform across types, including desktops, servers, and embedded systems.
- Input/Output: Encompasses user interface devices like displays, keyboards, and mice, along with storage devices such as hard disks, CDs/DVDs, and flash drives.
- Network Adapters: Facilitate connectivity and communication between devices.
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Description
Explore the fundamental concepts of computer abstractions and technology with Chapter 1 of 'Computer Organization and Design.' This chapter delves into the history and impact of the computer revolution, highlighting advancements driven by domain-specific accelerators. Discover how these developments have enabled innovative applications across various fields.
