Computer Organization and Architecture (CPE 301)
Master computer hardware organization from first principles: from logic gates, signed arithmetic, and Booth multiplication to cache mapping, virtual memory, instruction pipelining, and parallel multicore systems.
- 7
- Chapters
- 31
- Topics
- 106
- Lessons
- 1550
- Total XP
About this course
Computer Organization and Architecture (CPE 301) bridges the gap between software code and physical silicon. Starting from foundational digital logic and everyday analogies, this course provides a rigorous, step-by-step exploration of CPU datapaths, arithmetic algorithms (Booth's, restoring division, IEEE 754), memory hierarchies, cache optimization (AMAT, mapping functions), I/O subsystems, and high-performance instruction pipelining with hazard resolution.
What you'll learn
- Explain the five classical functional blocks and trace the fetch-decode-execute instruction cycle
- Perform signed binary arithmetic, Booth's multiplication, and restoring/non-restoring division
- Encode and decode floating-point numbers using the IEEE 754 single and double precision standards
- Analyze addressing modes, register transfer language (RTL), and hardwired vs. microprogrammed control units
Prerequisites
- No prior hardware knowledge required — this course includes a complete digital logic bridge module
- Basic familiarity with high school arithmetic (multiplication and division)
- Curiosity about how code executes on physical silicon chips
Course outline
Chapter 1
Module 0: Prerequisites & Digital Foundations
4 topics
Chapter 1
Module 0: Prerequisites & Digital Foundations
Essential digital logic and number system fundamentals needed to understand computer architecture from first principles.
- How Computers Think: From Transistors to Bits
- Number Systems & Conversions Without Tears
- Combinational Building Blocks: Gates, Multiplexers & Decoders