CS3220-X Processor Design

Spring 2015



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Course Description
In this course, we will study hardware implementation of architecture design. This is an intermediate-level course that follows CS2200. This course is a project-based course in which you will learn pipelined architectures and graphics processors by actually implementing simple instructions using a FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) board, also functional simulator. Especially, in this honor section, you will implement a graphics processor pipeline.

The course will strength the background knowledge of processor design by understanding timing issues, critical path, and other underlying hardware structures. It will also provide understanding of architecture, graphics pipeline, system, assembly programming and increase programming and debugging skills.

Topics:
- FPGA programming, hardware description language
- Digital design
- Basic of rendering
- Pipeline design
- Graphics processor pipeline
- Processor architecture

Pre-requisite:
CS2200 or an equivalent course (Above B)
Good knowledge of C/C++ programming


Textbooks: There is no required textbook for the course, but you will need to purchase your own Altera DE1 board. With the academic discount, these boards cost $99, and they can be purchased directly from the Altera's link. The link will be provides shortly. .

Course Home Pages: http://www.cc.gatech.edu/~hyesoon/spr15/index.html

Grading Scheme
Final grade algorithm
A few notes:
If you complete the final assignment (CPU+GPU integration) successfully before the end of the semester, regardless of your other grades, you will get at least B.
  • Assignments: All assignments are 2-student projects except for the first assignment. However, each student should submit his/her own report. The report Collaboration with other students other than the project partner is prohibited but discussions with other students are encouraged. Submitting any work other than you and your partner's own is a violating of the Academic Honor Code. If you are not sure what you can discuss or not, please contact the instructor.

  • Assignment late policy: All assignments are due on the day specified by the assignment description and posted online. To account for short-term unexpected events like computer crashes, submission problems, and clock skew, we will allow 5:55 hours of slack and accept projects until exactly (due time + 5 hr 55 m).
    To accommodate other schedule conflicts, we allow one time late submission (1 week extension) for each team.

  • Assignment submission rules: You must follow the submission guidelines specified in the assignment description. We will use T-squares. Wrong file names, broken file formats, missing files will lose 5% of grade.

  • Quiz: Absolutely no collaboration at all. Copying or receiving any other information from another person or their exam, with or without their consent, is unethical and unacceptable. Cheating is a direct violation of the GT Academic Honor Code and will be dealt with accordingly.


  • Regrades: Regrades are obtained by submitting a written explanation to the instructor within a week of when the work was returned in class. Regrades will only be discussed after submitting the work in this manner. In order for a test to be re-graded, you must neatly state in writing the reason that you would like your test to be re-graded. If a test is submitted for a re-grade, I have the right to re-grade the entire test-so keep it mind that it is possible to lose additional points. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that you do not ask for a re-grade unless you have substantial reason to believe that I made a mistake when originally grading the test. All regrade requests should be done within 2 weeks after the semester is finished.

  • Student Honor Code: Zero tolerance toward a violation of the student honor code. Any misbehavior will be reported to Dean of Students directly.

  • Pop Quizzes and Class Participation Grading Policies : There will be several short pop quizzes in the class. Class participation grading includes active class participation such as asking/answering questions, and active on-line activities in Piazza. Any other activities that will help other students in the class learn the class material will also counter for class participation points.


  • Office Hours: Please respect the office hours of the instructor by planning ahead. Other times are possible by appointments.

  • Newsgroup: We will use Piazza to discuss assignments and lectures.

  • Use of Electronic Devices in the classes: In general, using mobile devices (phones, notebooks, tablets) are not allowed unless it is specified before the class time. If you want to use notebooks to take notes, you should ask permissions and the instructor might ask you to sit at the first row.