Advanced Computer Architecture

Description

This book provides a comprehensive study of scalable and parallel computer architectures

for achieving a proportional increase in performance with increasing system

resources. System resources are scaled by the number of processors used, the memory

capacity enlarged, the access latency tolerated, the I/O bandwidth required, the

performance level desired, etc.

Scalable architectures delivering a sustained performance are desired in both sequential

and parallel computers. Parallel architecture has a higher potential to deliver

scalable performance. The scalability varies with different architecfcure-algorithm combinations.

Both hardware and software issttes need to be studied in building scalable

computer systems.

It is my intent to put the reader in a position to design scalable computer systems.

Scalability is defined in a broader sense to reflect the interplay among architectures,

algorithms, software, and environments. The integration between hardware and software

is emphasized for building cost-effective computers.

We should explore cutting-edge technologies in scalable parallel computing. Systems

architecture is thus studied with generality, scalability, programmability, and performability

in mind.

Since high technology changes so rapidly, I have presented the material in a generic

manner, unbiased toward particular machine implementations. Representative processors

and systems are presented only if they contain important features which may last

into the future.

Every author faces the same dilemma in writing a technology-dependent book which

may become obsolete quickly. To cope with the problem, frequent updates with newer

editions become a necessity, and I plan to make revisions every few years in the future.