\documentstyle[class,11pt]{article}
\def\ClassName{Computer~Organization}
\def\ClassNumber{CS~333}
\handedout{August 30,1995}
\vspace{0.5in}
\begin{center}
\large{\bf Homework \#1} \\
{\bf Due before 5:00 PM, September 6, 1995 \\
Turn in at TA's office L423 DCL (Basement)}\\
(Slide assignment under the door if locked.)
\end{center}
\begin{document}

{\bf
Important: Please submit a short pseudonym to serve as a grading alias.
Your grades for the course will be posted using this grading alias.
}

This assignment focuses on Performance, Technology, and Amdahl's Law.
Before starting the problems, please read Chapter 1 of the course
textbook (Hennessy and Patterson, Computer Architecture: A
Quantitative Approach, Second Edition).

As with all class assignments, you are expected to work the problems
on your own.  Discussions with other students should be limited to
understanding the problem and discussing general issues, NOT solving
the problems.  Electronic mail or posting to the course news group
(uiuc.class.cs333) is probably the fastest way to get clarification of
any problems, but you are welcome to contact any of the teaching staff
directly.

If you feel that a problem is specified insufficiently, state clearly
and justify the assumptions you are making.  Please write your
solutions neatly, making sure to show clearly how you arrived at your
answers.  Illegible solutions may be graded as incorrect.

\begin{problems}
\problem \Points{20}
{\bf Amdahl's Law} -- H\&P Exercise 1.2

\problem \Points{30}
{\bf Performance} -- H\&P Exercise 1.7

\problem \Points{20}
{\bf Performance Summary} -- H\&P Exercise 1.11

\problem \Points{30}
{\bf Technology Evolution:} Because the technologies that drive
computers are evolving at
geometric rates, the rate of technology evolution often catches
designers of both computer hardware and software by surprise.
Consider the following rates of technological evolution:

\begin{center}
\begin{tabular}{|l|r|r|l|}\hline 
Technology	& Multiplier	&	Period 	& 1995 Typical \\ \hline \hline
IC Logic	& 3x		&	2 years	& Intel Pentium (3-4M
trans) \\ \hline 
Memory (DRAM)	& 4x		& 	3 years & 64MB using 16Mbit
DRAMs \\ \hline
Disk		& 4x		& 	3 years & 1GB disk	\\ \hline
\end{tabular}
\end{center}

Where these increases are in transistor density per chip
(microprocessors), bit density per chip (DRAM), and storage density
(disk).

a. Ignoring cost for the moment, consider a PC system for 2001, based
on core technology improvements, what are the likely parameters of the
system? (e.g. millions of transistors in the CPU, megabytes of memory
and gigabytes of disk storage)

b. Ignoring cost, given the relative rates of technology evolution, 
DISCUSS how the
balance of the computer system is likely to change over the time
between now and 2001.  That is explain how the system balance will be
different for PC's in 2001.  Based on this scenario, give two possible
impacts this could have on the applications that are feasible, or how
designers should structure their software.

{\bf Continued on the next page}
\newpage

c. In the above scenarios, we have considered only the rate of
technology evolution.  Of course, the cost at which the technology is
available also has an impact on how much of it is
exploited/incorporated.  Though historically the price of
semiconductor memory (DRAM) has fallen on exponential curves (see pg
9), there are some that believe that in the future, memory prices will
not drop as fast.  Suppose that the technology improves as above, but
the price of memory only falls 2x every 3 years.  Then what are the
likely parameters of a 2001 computer system? (HINT: see pg 14 for 
a typical system cost breakdown).

d. Based on the scenario in part (c) above, give two possible
impacts this could have on the applications that are
feasible, or how designers should structure their software.

\end{problems}

{\bf
Important: Do not forget to submit a short pseudonym to serve as a grading alias.
Your grades for the course will be posted using this grading alias.

Remember, late assignments will NOT be accepted unless you get PRIOR
permission from Dr. Chien !
}

\end{document}