CSCE 2610: Fall 2016

Homework 01
Full Points: 100
Q1: Describe the steps that transform a program written in a high level language into a
representation that is directly executed by the computer processor.
[20 point]
Q2: Consider three different processors P1, P2, and P3 executing the same instruction set.

Clock Rate
CPI

P1
3GHz
1.5

P2
2.5 GHz
1

P3
4 GHz
2.2

a. Which processor has the highest performance expressed in Instructions per Second?
b. If the processors each execute a program in 10 seconds, find the number of cycles and the
number of instructions.
[30 points]
Q3: Consider two different implementations of the same ISA. The instructions can be divided
into four classes according to their CPI.
Class
CPI @ P1
CPI @ P2

A
1
2

B
2
2

C
3
2

D
3
2

P1
P2

Clock Rate
2.5 GHz
3.0 GHz

Given a program of Dynamic Instruction count of 1.0E6 instructions divided into classes as
follows: 10% class A, 20% class B, 50%class C and 20% class D.
a. which is faster: P1 or P2?
b. What is the global (average) CPI for each implementation?
c. Find the clock cycles required in both cases.
[30 points]
Q4. Out of the eight great ideas, explain how the use of Abstraction helps on simplifying the
design of Computer Architecture.
[10 Points]
Q5. Explain briefly the major tasks of a system software.
[10 points]