Course Goals This class is designed to enable students to follow the latest developments in computer architecture, especially those related to parallel computer architecture. Although this is clearly useful for those who wish to do research in computer architecture, it is also useful for those who work in related areas or who have general interests. The class strives for these goals through four aspects: Cover a broad swath of material related to parallel computer architecture, not covered in core-level grad classes. Providing students with the opportunity to { find, analyze, communicate, discuss } advanced material. Examining fundamental ideas that are the "frontier" of the field and have not yet made it into industry. Prepare students to lead discussion of topics and filter/assimiliate information quickly.

Prof. Michael Taylor

Announcements

Course Materials

1. IEEE Explore (free access from UCSD network)
   For IEEE publications.
   
   
2. ACM Portal (free access from UCSD network)
   For ACM publications.
   
   
3. Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach, Hennessy & Patterson.
   Hopefully, you already have this.
   
   
4. The Synthesis Lectures on Computer Architecture. (Free, when accessed from UCSD campus.)
   
   I will not post links to the articles, because I want located these papers to become second nature to you.
   
   If you do not have access to the UCSD network because you are an open enrollment student, then make a friend in the class to help.
   

Grading

Proof of Reading

• Each class period will be separated into two Epochs, with separate readings. Paper Analyses will be due on the following schedule:

  Day	Due
  Epoch I	Previous Friday, 11 p.m.
  Epoch II	Wednesday, 12:30 p.m.

  
  
  If reading is not explicitly divided between Epoch I and II, then you should split the material evenly across the two Epochs.
  
  
• For some readings, such as textbook readings, the paper survey form may not make as much sense. To this end, you must submit notes for each EPOC, using this sheet. You will provide a MD5 hash of the notes at the time of submission. If the notes are different than the MD5 hash, or the date of submission is after the deadline, then I will ignore them. Furthermore, I will use a script to retrieve and print the first TWO pages of each epoch's notes (if the MD5 hash matches), and you can make use of them during your last test. You will not be able to use any other materials.
  
  Your submissions must be your original work.
  
  
• For actual papers, you will use this form: google form.
• Your Proof of Reading will be based on the percentage of epochs that you have filled out with thoughtful (but not perfect) answers or logic notes. If 90% appear thoughtful or reasonable, then you will receive full credit. Thus, if an act of god or force majeure causes two Epoch's worth of entries to be unentered, it will not affect your grade. However, the third such event will affect your grade as much as getting 25 % wrong on your final!
• If you have concerns over this policy, I recommend you submit early to allow yourself margin for unexpected issues; maybe even the day before! To ensure that you receive credit, you should record your notes in a google doc and then copy it into the form after you are done. This way, if there are any issues with the form, you will be able to show both your content and the times it was written.

Final Paper

Exams

Mini Research Exams

• You must create your own slides; you may not simply download a talk from the internet. However, you may reuse diagrams.
  
  
• You should read and adhere to this Advice on Giving Talks, which combines wisdom acquired by Professor Swanson and I.
  
  
• At the end of the presentation, We will have the class fill out evaluation forms given each student feedback on their presentation.
  
  
• Each student will have to do this a few times, dependent on enrollment.
  
  
• In order to do this, student experts must read other materials outside the paper (tracing back the references) in order to give the class additional context. It should be clear from the presentation that the students have done this.
  
  
• I expect that student experts will practice the presentation in order to make sure that it fits in the allotted time and has appropriate transitions. This is a good preparation for giving talks, whether for communicating one's own research, or for a research exam.
  
  
• Logistically, this works in the following way - students will sign up for a given day ahead of time. They will prepare the slides, and will send them to me on the following schedule:
  
  

  Day	Due
  Wednesday	Previous Friday, 11 p.m.

  
  
• If I do not receive it by those times, a late penalty may apply. I will follow up with feedback by Sunday at noon, quite but possibly even earlier.
  
  
• After getting feedback, you will revise the presentation, practice it and then give it in class. During the presentation, students are free to ask questions of the experts, and if a discussion topic arises, we will pause to discuss it.