“The second edition of the book Introduction to Computer Architecture is as clear and concise as Douglas Comer’s other books. The author knows how to explain complex topics in the most succinct manner possible. The examples are also clear and easy to understand. The excellent structure of the book makes it particularly enjoyable to read.”

—Dr. Mahamed G.H. Omran, Gulf University for Science & Technology (GUST)

This accessible textbook, intended for undergraduate courses lasting one semester, provides an introduction to computer architecture while focusing on the fundamental aspects of hardware that programmers need to be familiar with. The topics are explained from the programmer's perspective, and additionally, emphasis is placed on the relevant implications for programmers.

The first of the five parts of the book covers the basic knowledge of digital logic, gates, data paths, and data representation. It then describes the three main aspects of architecture: processors, memories, and input/output systems. In each case, and without going into too many details, the chapters provide students with the knowledge they need to understand how the various mechanisms work and what the implications are for programmers.

In the final part of the book, various advanced topics are discussed—parallelism, pipelining, power and energy, and performance—and an example related to hardware segmentation is presented. The book also includes appendices with practical laboratory exercises, as well as a brief introduction to the symbolic language of x86 architecture and x64 extensions.

Contents:

• Introduction to Digital Logic
• Data and Program Representation
• The Variety of Processors and Computing Machines
• Types of Processors and Instruction Sets
• Data Paths and Instruction Execution
• Addressing Modes and Instruction Representation