Computer Organization and Design

This classic text demonstrates the relationships between the software and hardware and focuses on the fundamental concepts that are the basis for current computer design. Using a distinctive, 'learning by evolution' approach, the authors present the idea from its first principles, incrementally adding complexity through a series of worked examples until readers have acquired an understanding of the entire MIPS instruction set and fundamentals of assembly language. Computer arithmetic, pipelining, and memory hierarchies are treated to the same evolutionary approach. The design, performance and significance of I/O systems are also discussed in depth, and an entire chapter is devoted to the emerging architectures of multiprocessor systems. The text provides relevant and tangible examples of how concepts are implemented in commercially successful products and shares learned experiences of the authors and other designers in the industry. Key terms summarise the essential ideas introduced in the chapter.