Computer Organization Study Guide 1

1. Computer OrganizationStudy Guide 1 Exam 1 Thursday, September 28 Closed Book University of Portland School of Engineering

2. Skills • Explain the five major components of a computer and what they do • Convert between decimal, binary, hex • Describe the MIPS programmer’s view • Explain the key MIPS features • Given memory contents, find a specific byte or word University of Portland School of Engineering

3. Skills, continued. • Write a MIPS assembly program segment for a mathematical expression • Write a MIPS assembly program segment for a loop • Explain the difference between an assembly language instruction and a machine language instruction University of Portland School of Engineering

4. Skills, continued. • Convert between an effective address and a target address • Explain the two passes of an assembler • Describe the R, I, and J-format instructions and their fields • Convert an assembly language statement to its machine language representation University of Portland School of Engineering

5. Skills, continued. • Determine the mode and select input values for an LS181 for a specific function • Design a 16-bit ALU using the LS181 part • Design a logical shifter both left and right • Design a 16-to-32 bit sign extender circuit • Find the register and/or immediate values for the MIPS datapath and an instruction University of Portland School of Engineering

6. Skills, continued. • Define: program counter, register file, instruction memory, data memory • Identify the number of clocks for the multi-cycle datapath and an instruction • Calculate the Fmax for the MIPS datapath University of Portland School of Engineering

7. Test Preparation • Study in small groups • Focus on lecture and in-class problems • With serious students, some of same level • Go over problems, set them up, do not number crunch • Leave beer in refrigerator until done • Make up a crib sheet: even though not allowed • Don’t stay up all night, get good sleep University of Portland School of Engineering

8. Test Preparation • Set up a backup for your alarm clock • Eat breakfast, lunch, dinner • Arrange backup transportation to campus • Bring everything you need for the exam • Pencils • Erasers University of Portland School of Engineering

9. Taking the test • Put your name and student number on exam • Read over the exam before writing • Read each problem carefully, understand what was asked • Show your work • Provide enough detail • Don’t do problem “in your head” University of Portland School of Engineering

10. Taking the test • Think partial credit • Put something down for each question • If you are unclear, write down what you might do to solve the problem • Stay in motion, budget your time • Work on a problem until you get stuck • Give it a couple more minutes, then move on • Return to the problem later University of Portland School of Engineering

11. Taking the test • Keep your work legible • If you don’t understand a problem, ask the instructor • Don’t panic • If you find yourself sweating, hyperventilating, take a break • Take a few deep breaths, stretch • Then return to the exam University of Portland School of Engineering

12. Taking the test • Check your exam at the end • Did you answer every question & part? • Do your answers seem reasonable? • Do your answers check out? • Hand in your paper when time is called University of Portland School of Engineering