Multiprocessors Architecture

Credits
6
Types
Specialisation compulsory (High Performance Computing)
Requirements
This subject has not requirements , but it has got previous capacities
Department
AC
There would be no modern computers without multiprocessors. Today implicit and explicit parallelism are used at multiple levels to sustain the exponential improvements in performance that we have experienced since the invention of the microprocessor.

We will study the evolution of the multiprocessors and the interaction between the microarchitecture, the architecture and the technology that enables them. The focus will be on Chip Multiprocessors but we will also cover large parallel systems up to a modern datacenter and some potential future systems.

Teachers

Person in charge

  • Antonio Juan Hormigo (antonioj@ac.upc.edu)

Weekly hours

Theory
2
Problems
0
Laboratory
2
Guided learning
0
Autonomous learning
7.54

Competences

Technical Competences of each Specialization

High performance computing

  • CEE4.1 - Capability to analyze, evaluate and design computers and to propose new techniques for improvement in its architecture.

    • Generic Technical Competences

    Generic

  • CG1 - Capability to apply the scientific method to study and analyse of phenomena and systems in any area of Computer Science, and in the conception, design and implementation of innovative and original solutions.

    • Transversal Competences

    Appropiate attitude towards work

  • CTR5 - Capability to be motivated by professional achievement and to face new challenges, to have a broad vision of the possibilities of a career in the field of informatics engineering. Capability to be motivated by quality and continuous improvement, and to act strictly on professional development. Capability to adapt to technological or organizational changes. Capacity for working in absence of information and/or with time and/or resources constraints.

    • Basic

  • CB9 - Possession of the learning skills that enable the students to continue studying in a way that will be mainly self-directed or autonomous.

    • Contents

    1. Introduction to multiprocessor architecture
      .
    2. Single Thread performance and limits
      .
    3. Laws & Performance metrics
      .
    4. Cache Coherence
      .
    5. Memory Consistency
      .
    6. ISA support or MP
      .
    7. Interconnection Networks
      .
    8. Chiplets
      .
    9. A real example: Intel KNC
      .
    10. Quantum Computing
      .

    Teaching methodology

    The course consists of lectures given by the professor and some related papers reviewed by the students

    Evaluation methodology

    The evaluation will have 2 main components:

    AP: 0..4 (Attendance + Participation)
    Tn: 0..8 (arithmetic mean of n Tests, each one scored from 0 to 8)

    The final score will be:

    S= MIN (AP + Tn, 10)

    Bibliography

    Basic