High Performance Computer Architecture

The georgia tech guy with the cool pen does a good job of the basics, and hits some branch prediction stuff.

edit: Sorry for the vague description :)

https://www.udacity.com/course/high-performance-computer-architecture--ud007

This is Georgia Techs 's High Performance Computer Architecture course. It explains from ground to top. https://www.udacity.com/course/high-performance-computer-architecture--ud007

Also you can find lecture videos of Dr. Onur Mutlu on YouTube. I didn't share a link for that because it updates often.

Take as much time as you can with the first 4 lessons in this free online course. The full course is pretty much the same content as CMPE 202 which is the graduate level computer architecture class.

Also, practice pipeline diagrams

https://www.udacity.com/course/high-performance-computer-architecture--ud007

The difference between my undergrad/grad is that in grad school I had a much better handle on my learning style. I used two different methods to reign in the bad habits that were detrimental to my learning. 1) I used the pomodoro technique for pacing and focus because my mind tends to meander but I'd use 15 minute time intervals instead of the normal 25. 2) I used the Feynman technique for subjects that were particularly difficult for me like device physics or RF Electronics.

That was the secret sauce for me and your particular learning style/solution might be quite different. In undergrad I was just kind of hitting the books really inefficiently and with no strategy.

I'm not sure what your current situation with regard to school/major is but for Architecture/Embedded I'd look up the free courses from Georgia Tech on Udemy. They are pretty badass and the architecture course got me through some tough job interviews. Link to the comp arch course is here.

Of the 4 classes I took HPCA lectures had the most relevance both in projects and the midterm/final.

As with most other classes, all the lectures are already available on udacity.

https://www.udacity.com/course/high-performance-computer-architecture--ud007

Being able to work out the lecture quizzes by hand will help a lot.

Other classes the lectures had relevance to some quizzes or only the exams but not so with HPCA, even the projects make use of the lecture concepts.

Also download the latest VirtualBox if you haven't already and set up a shared folder. This will decrease the time it takes for you to start on the projects.

https://www.udacity.com/course/high-performance-computer-architecture--ud007

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Computer-Architecture-Quantitative-Approach-Kaufmann/dp/012383872X

https://www.anandtech.com

https://www.realworldtech.com

If you’re into GPUs keep your eye out for the architecture whitepapers put out by Nvidia and AMD:

https://www.nvidia.com/content/dam/en-zz/Solutions/Data-Center/nvidia-ampere-architecture-whitepaper.pdf

https://www.amd.com/system/files/documents/rdna-whitepaper.pdf

Comp Arch Essentials

I'm thinking of having a semi comprehensive post about some essentials to computer architecture. Let me know what you guys think!

Level I is introduction or foundation knowledge, Level IV is specific areas of comp arch.

Books:

• Level I
• Level I
• Level II
• Level III
• Level IV
• Level IV
• Level IV
• Level III
• Level IV
• Level III Reading List
• Level IV

Courses:

• Intro
• Advanced
• P I
• P II
• Memory Systems
• Advanced II
• Advanced III