Computer Architecture and System Performance: Personal Computers, Servers,
Supercomputers, Embedded Systems, and Personal Mobile Devices; Cloud
Computing and SaaS Models; Processor and Memory System Design, Instruction
Set Architecture (ISA), Application Binary Interface (ABI), CPU Data-path,
Control, and Cache Memory; Memory Hierarchy and Parameters (Registers,
L1/L2 Cache, Main Memory, External Memory), Latency, Cost, Volatility, and Sign
Extension; Input/Output Systems, User Interface, Storage and Network
Adapters; Semiconductor Technology, Wafer, Conductors, Insulators, Integrated
Circuits, and Yield; CPU Time, Clocking, Clock Period, Clock Frequency,
Instruction Count (IC), MIPS, Multicore Microprocessors, Throughput, Response
Time, Elapsed Time, SPEC Benchmarks, and Amdahl’s Law; Compiler and High-
Level Language Translation; Parallelism, Pipelining, Prediction, Abstraction,
Hierarchy, Dependability, and Seven Great Ideas for System Design; Registers vs
Memory, Register Numbers, Main Memory Usage, Instruction Formats (R/I/J),
op, rs, rt, rd, shamt, funct, and Hexadecimal Representation; Design Principles
for Performance, Simplicity, Common Case Optimization, and Tradeoffs in CPU
Design Exam Questions Verified and Provided with Complete A+ Graded
Rationales Latest Updated 2026
Personal Computers
-General Purpose
-Subject to cost/performance tradeoff
Server Computers
-Network based
,-High capacity, performance, and reliability
-Sizes may vary
Supercomputers
-Type of server
-High-end scientific and engineering calculations
-Highest capacity
Embedded computers
-Hidden as components of systems
-Stringent power/performance/cost constraints
Personal Mobile Device(PMD)
-Battery operated
-Internet connection
-Hundreds of dollars
Cloud Computing
-Warehouse Scale Computers
-Software as a Service (SaaS)
-Portion of software run on a PMD and a portion run in the cloud
, Algorithm **
Determines number of operations executed
MTTF
Mean Time to Failure
Compiler
Translates code from HLL to Machine code
Architecture
Organization of the components which make up a computer system and determines number of
machine instructions executed per operation
Processor and Memory System
Determine how fast instructions are executed
I/O System
Determines how fast I/O operations are executed
Supercomputers, Embedded Systems, and Personal Mobile Devices; Cloud
Computing and SaaS Models; Processor and Memory System Design, Instruction
Set Architecture (ISA), Application Binary Interface (ABI), CPU Data-path,
Control, and Cache Memory; Memory Hierarchy and Parameters (Registers,
L1/L2 Cache, Main Memory, External Memory), Latency, Cost, Volatility, and Sign
Extension; Input/Output Systems, User Interface, Storage and Network
Adapters; Semiconductor Technology, Wafer, Conductors, Insulators, Integrated
Circuits, and Yield; CPU Time, Clocking, Clock Period, Clock Frequency,
Instruction Count (IC), MIPS, Multicore Microprocessors, Throughput, Response
Time, Elapsed Time, SPEC Benchmarks, and Amdahl’s Law; Compiler and High-
Level Language Translation; Parallelism, Pipelining, Prediction, Abstraction,
Hierarchy, Dependability, and Seven Great Ideas for System Design; Registers vs
Memory, Register Numbers, Main Memory Usage, Instruction Formats (R/I/J),
op, rs, rt, rd, shamt, funct, and Hexadecimal Representation; Design Principles
for Performance, Simplicity, Common Case Optimization, and Tradeoffs in CPU
Design Exam Questions Verified and Provided with Complete A+ Graded
Rationales Latest Updated 2026
Personal Computers
-General Purpose
-Subject to cost/performance tradeoff
Server Computers
-Network based
,-High capacity, performance, and reliability
-Sizes may vary
Supercomputers
-Type of server
-High-end scientific and engineering calculations
-Highest capacity
Embedded computers
-Hidden as components of systems
-Stringent power/performance/cost constraints
Personal Mobile Device(PMD)
-Battery operated
-Internet connection
-Hundreds of dollars
Cloud Computing
-Warehouse Scale Computers
-Software as a Service (SaaS)
-Portion of software run on a PMD and a portion run in the cloud
, Algorithm **
Determines number of operations executed
MTTF
Mean Time to Failure
Compiler
Translates code from HLL to Machine code
Architecture
Organization of the components which make up a computer system and determines number of
machine instructions executed per operation
Processor and Memory System
Determine how fast instructions are executed
I/O System
Determines how fast I/O operations are executed
