about_this_course [ECE1728H: Topics in Computer Architecture: Performance, Reliability, Power and Functionality]

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Course Format: We'll start with a lecture format where I will be covering general concepts in computer architecture. This will probably last for about two months. Then we will revert into a seminar format where papers will be assigned for reading and presentation by you. In more detail: This is going to be a reading- and project-heavy course. Every week at least two relevant papers will be assigned each to a volunteer that will have to present it in two weeks. Presentations should be 20-30 minutes long and should emphasize the contributions of the work. A week before the presentation you will have to meet with me so that you can get feedback on your presentation. If you are not presenting, you will be required to hand-in a short summary/questionnaire at the beginning of the lecture each week. In addition to the weekly reading and presentation of papers you will also have to propose and complete a project and a few assignments. Project details will be finalized by mid-October the latest. You will have to either validate the results of an existing work, or propose a research topic and investigate it (strongly discouraged), or study architectural alternatives on a FPGA platform.

Relation to the “Advanced Computer Architecture” course: Few of the papers we will be discussing, have also been briefly touched upon in the Advanced Computer Architecture course. However, the bulk of this course will cover different topics. Moreover, the emphasis will be in presentations and not lectures and in pursuing a challenging project.

Grading: There are four components: 1. Presentations, 2. Questionnaires, 3. Homeworks, and 4. the Project each accounting for 25% of your grade. You have to achieve at least 60% on each one.

Questionnaire Late Policy: No late questionnaires will be accepted. However, if you really find that you cannot submit one in time you can use one of your two free cards. Each questionnaire you do not submit requires a free card. After these are exhausted you will be penalized for each questionnaire you do not submit on time. The penalty is 100%.