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xvi PREFACE

• Simulation projects: The IRC provides support for the use of the two simulation pack-
ages: SimpleScalar can be used to explore computer organization and architecture
design issues. SMPCache provides a powerful educational tool for examining cache
design issues for symmetric multiprocessors.
• Assembly language projects: A simplified assembly language, CodeBlue, is used and
assignments based on the popular Core Wars concept are provided.
• Reading/report assignments: A list of papers in the literature, one or more for each
chapter, that can be assigned for the student to read and then write a short report.
• Writing assignments: A list of writing assignments to facilitate learning the material.
• Test bank: Includes T/F, multiple choice, and fill-in-the-blanks questions and answers.
This diverse set of projects and other student exercises enables the instructor to use the
book as one component in a rich and varied learning experience and to tailor a course plan to
meet the specific needs of the instructor and students. See Appendix A in this book for details.

INTERACTIVE SIMULATIONS

New to this edition is the incorporation of interactive simulations.These simulations provide a
powerful tool for understanding the complex design features of a modern computer system.A
total of 20 interactive simulations are used to illustrate key functions and algorithms in com-
puter organization and architecture design.At the relevant point in the book, an icon indicates
that a relevant interactive simulation is available online for student use.Because the animations
enable the user to set initial conditions, they can serve as the basis for student assignments.The
instructor’s supplement includes a set of assignments, one for each of the animations. Each
assignment includes a several specific problems that can be assigned to students.

WHAT’S NEW IN THE EIGHTH EDITION

In the four years since the seventh edition of this book was published, the field has seen
continued innovations and improvements. In this new edition, I try to capture these
changes while maintaining a broad and comprehensive coverage of the entire field. To
begin this process of revision, the seventh edition of this book was extensively reviewed by
a number of professors who teach the subject and by professionals working in the field.
The result is that, in many places, the narrative has been clarified and tightened, and illus-
trations have been improved. Also, a number of new “field-tested” homework problems
have been added.
Beyond these refinements to improve pedagogy and user friendliness, there have been
substantive changes throughout the book. Roughly the same chapter organization has been
retained, but much of the material has been revised and new material has been added. The
most noteworthy changes are as follows:
• Interactive simulation: Simulation provides a powerful tool for understanding the
complex mechanisms of a modern processor.The eighth edition incorporates 20 sepa-
rate interactive,Web-based simulation tools covering such areas as cache memory,
main memory, I/O, branch prediction, instruction pipelining, and vector processing.At
appropriate places in the book, the simulators are highlighted so that the student can
invoke the simulation at the proper point in studying the book.