Prerequisites: (MET CS 232 or MET LB 100) and (MET CS 248 or MET LB 101). Or consent of instructor. Examines the fundamental principles of computer architecture, from instruction set design to modern secure and high-performance processors. Topics include number systems, ISA concepts, datapath and control design, pipelining and speculative execution, memory hierarchy and virtual memory, parallel and multicore systems, and advanced architectural features such as superscalar execution and hardware-based security mechanisms. The course emphasizes the interaction between hardware, operating systems, and software, as well as performance and security trade-offs in modern processor design.

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