The document is an exam paper for an Advanced Computer Architecture course. It contains 8 questions about various topics in computer architecture. The questions cover implementation technologies in machine evolution, Amdahl's Law, CPU performance modeling techniques, branch cost optimization, hardware and software approaches to instruction level parallelism, static branch prediction, thread level parallelism, dynamic scheduling using Tomasulo's algorithm, the architecture of the Trimedia TM32 multiprocessor, I/O system design principles, and the VLIW approach. Students have to answer any 5 of the 8 questions in the 3 hour exam.

1. Code No: D5803 R09
JAWAHARLAL NEHRU TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY HYDERABAD
M.Tech II - Semester Examinations, October/November 2011
ADVANCED COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE
(COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING)
Time: 3hours Max. Marks: 60
Answer any five questions
All questions carry equal marks
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1.a) What implementation technologies should a designer be aware in the evolution
of a machine?
b) Briefly explain AmdahL’s Law. [12]
2.a) Briefly explain three general classes of simulation techniques that are used to
model the components of the CPU performance equation.
b) What are the different competing forces an architect must observe when
Encoding the instruction set. [12]
3.a) Explain, how dynamic hardware production helps to optimize the branch
costs.
b) Describe, the use of compiler technologies for improving the performance of
pipelines. [12]
4.a) Briefly explain Hardware based speculation.
b) Compare and contrast Hardware verses software solutions in ILP software
approach. [12]
5.a) What is static Branch Prediction?
b) Explain thread level parallelism. [12]
6. Explain Dynamic scheduling using Tomasulo’s approach. [12]
7.a) Explain the architecture of Trimedia TM32.
b) Explain the characteristics of typical multiprocessor applications. [12]
8.a) What are the principles of designing an I/O system? Explain I/O system
design process.
b) Explain the VLIW approach. [12]
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