– Focuses on symmetric and distributed shared-memory architectures, cache coherence protocols (Snooping/Directory), and synchronization.
: Review previous exam questions to understand recurring topics like locality of reference, instruction encoding, and pipeline hazards on Scribd's paper repository .
– Often covers specific implementations such as Simultaneous Multithreading (SMT), Vector processors, or Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). Recommended Resources & Notes
For the course, typically part of the Anna University curriculum, the syllabus focuses on quantitative design principles and the evolution of modern processor architectures. Core Course Units
: A structured unit-wise breakdown is available on Scribd .
– Explores dynamic scheduling, hardware-based speculation, and software approaches like loop unrolling and compiler techniques.
– Detailed study of cache performance, memory hierarchy, virtual memory, and designing reliable I/O systems.
– Covers quantitative principles of computer design, performance metrics, and the fundamentals of pipelining.