Lesson 4 Class Notes
Lesson 4 Class Notes
Welcome to this new semester whereby we will have a chance to further our
knowledge on computer’s hardware, their purpose and functionalities.
Having equipped ourselves with profound knowledge on digital systems, and
Welcome
how they are designed and build, we have a good opportunity to learn and
Message.
understand how the digital systems are used as building blocks of modern digital
Computer systems.
With profound knowledge and skills you will obtain in this course unit, you will
be able to:
Physically assembler a computer system, guided by the specifications
required for use.
Troubleshoot and repair computer systems from the hardware point of
view and application.
Give appropriate and professional advice on computation resources
specifications.
Description This course covers computer systems architectures and organization. It also
introduce the learner to Microprocessors and their applications with reference
to operations and development of computer systems designs. The course also
introduces the learner to low level programing languages and the machine
languages, as well as programs development with respect to computing
hardware.
Audience The learner should be well acquainted with the design and operation of digital
Description systems. The learner should also be in a position to perceive the operations of
the microprocessors from the Digital systems point of view.
Teaching and We will have normal Lectures & Online Lectures / conferences;
Learning Tutorials in class will involve practicals & Discussions. We will also have
Methods Ungraded and Graded Quizzes & Assignments.
Learning will involve practicals for computer hardware and programming in
assembly language.
We will use Integrated Development Environments for coding and other
simulation facilities that will help to perceive how processing normally take
place.
COURSE CONTENT DESCRIPTION AND TIMING
Weekly Dates Topics Descriptions
Week 1 Digital logics review.
Computer’s Data representations.
Basic conversions on relevant number systems.
Numbers, arithmetic operations and characters;
Addition and subtraction of integer signed numbers;
Overflow in integer arithmetic.
Introduction to Interrupts.
Vectored interrupts.
Polling methods of interrupts,
Enabling and disabling interrupts,
Priority interrupts. Interrupt nesting;
Simultaneous requests.
Parallel processing.
Dynamic executions
MMX instructions.
Threads, hyper threading.
Processes.
OS interfaces
Week 13 Introduction to computers networks
Types of networks.
Network topologies.
Network hardware devices and medium.
Week 14 Revision and Discussions
1) M. Morris Mano & Michael D. Ciletti (2012). Digital Design, 5th ed.
Core texts
Prentice Hall.
2) Wakerly, J.F. (2005). Digital design: principles and practices. 4th ed.
Prentice Hall.
3) Kip, R. Irvine (2010). Assembly Language for Intel-Based Computers,
6th ed. Prentice Hall.
4) William, Stallings (2012). Computer Architecture & Organization:
Design for Performance, 8th ed. Prentice Hall.
5) A.S. Tanenbaum (2012). Structured Computer Organization 6th ed.
Prentice Hall, Upper Sable River.