Computer Systems
Duration
- One Semester or equivalent
Contact hours
- 48 Hours
Prerequisites
Aims and objectives
Aims
Students will become familiar with the design, programming, operation, and design constraints of computing hardware.
Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO)
Students who successfully complete this Unit will be able to:
1. Read and write assembly language programs for a simple microcomputer.
2. Identify the hardware components of a computer and the functions they perform.
3. Describe the overall behaviour of compilers, assemblers, linkers and interpreters.
4. Argue some of the trade-offs between hardware and software that occur in computer
system design.
Unit information in detail
- Teaching methods, assessment, general skills outcomes and content.
Teaching methods
Instructor/Tutor demonstrating in the Computer Labs
Assessment
Assessment Details
| Types | Individual or Group task | Weighting | Assesses attainment of these ULOs |
| Examination | Individual | 50-60% | 1,2,3,4 |
| Lab work | Individual | 5-10% | 1, 2 |
| Assignment 1 | Individual | 15-25% | 1, 2 |
| Assignment 2 | Individual | 15-25% | 1, 2, 3 |
Minimum requirements to pass this unit
As the minimum requirements of assessment to pass the unit and meet all Unit Learning Outcomes to a minimum standard, a student must achieve:
(i) An aggregate mark of 50% or more, and
(ii) Obtain at least 40% in the final exam
Students who do not successfully achieve hurdle requirement (ii) will receive a maximum of 44% as the total mark for the unit and will not be eligible for a conceded pass.
General skills outcomes
Key Generic Skills
During this unit students will receive feedback on the following key generic skills:- problem solving skills
- analysis skills
- ability to work independently
Content
- Assembly language programming
- An introduction to program timing considerations and interrupts
- Serial and parallel input /output
- Memory types and organisation
- Basic computer organisation: Von Neumann and Harvard architectures
- The internals of a microcomputer using a RISC CPU
- An introduction to interfacing to the analogue world
- A block diagram of a complete CPU
- An introduction to data storage technologies
Study resources
- Recommended reading and references.
Recommended reading
References
Some labs and assessments will use the Logisim Evolution Logic simulator available here: https://github.com/reds-heig/logisim-evolution or via the unit outline.