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Simon Morgan · Guest

Hi,

I'm taking a class that covers computer architecture along with C and
UNIX. The recommended text for the former section is Microprocessors &
Microcomputers by Tocci & Ambrosio and I was wondering what everyone
thought about this book? Is there anything better available? I'm finding
it hard to locate to buy but if there's something equally as good or
better then that would be ideal. I should state that this is an
introductory level class.

The reason I ask is that having taught myself C and not seeing the K&R
book on the reading list for the C section of this class has cast doubt on
the other recommendations. Being practically a complete beginner when it
comes to arch stuff I'd appreciate some input from people more
knowledgeable than myself.

We're being taught using the 68HC11 although if that isn't covered don't
worry about it, this is a subject I intend to pursue long after this
class is finished so anything specific to the 68HC11 really isn't that
important.

Many thanks.

--
"Being a social outcast helps you stay concentrated on the really important
things, like thinking and hacking." - Eric S. Raymond

Simon Morgan · Guest

On Tue, 04 Oct 2005 19:18:18 +0000, Simon Morgan wrote:

John R. Levine · Guest

Robin Bruce · Guest

Yeah,

Reading your original message, I was thinking Hennessy and Patterson
too.

"Computer Architecture: A quantatitive approach" is the one I've got
between my paws right now... :-)

It might not help you too much to pass your current class, but it'll
serve you well in the years to come.

Robin

John Ahlstrom · Guest

Simon Morgan wrote:

Michael Koenig · Guest

Simon Morgan wrote:
[quote]I'm taking a class that covers computer architecture along with C and
UNIX. The recommended text for the former section is Microprocessors &
Microcomputers by Tocci & Ambrosio and I was wondering what everyone
thought about this book?
[/quote]
Sorry, I don't know the book, so I cannot provide any comments on it.

[quote]Is there anything better available?
[/quote]
Without knowing the other book, I'm not sure about better, but like others
mentioned already, the standard books are those by John Hennessy and David
Patterson, ie. "Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach" and "Computer
Organization & Design". While they definately have some overlap they also
complement each other. If you are new to the topic, the latter of both is
probably easier to understand.

Also quite interesting is Steven Furber's "ARM System Architecture". Of course
it only deals with ARM, but since it has become the most often used 32-bit
architecture it can't hurt to know something about it. But that's just an
additional reading tip, Hennessy and Patterson should be your primary
interest.

[quote]We're being taught using the 68HC11 although if that isn't covered don't
worry about it, this is a subject I intend to pursue long after this
class is finished so anything specific to the 68HC11 really isn't that
important.
[/quote]
All the books I mentioned deal mainly with RISC architectures, but that only
means that you'll be able to see two worlds of processor architectures: RISC
and accumulator (68HC11).

--
M.I.K.e

George Coulouris · Guest

On 2005-10-04, Simon Morgan <simon@16hz.net> wrote:
[quote]I'm taking a class that covers computer architecture along with C and
UNIX. The recommended text for the former section is Microprocessors &
Microcomputers by Tocci & Ambrosio and I was wondering what everyone
thought about this book? Is there anything better available? I'm finding
it hard to locate to buy but if there's something equally as good or
better then that would be ideal. I should state that this is an
introductory level class.
[snip][/quote]

Patterson & Hennessy has served me well over the years. I'm currently
tempted to pick up /Readings in Computer Architecture/ :

http://tinyurl.com/cfm49

--
George Coulouris
not speaking for ncbi
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