Computer Architecture and Microprocessors Course

The design and organisation of a computer's hardware and instruction set.

Hardwired control uses fixed logic circuits; microprogrammed control uses stored microinstructions, which are easier to modify.

A small, fast memory that stores frequently used data close to the CPU.

Direct memory access, which lets devices transfer data to memory without the CPU.

The 8085 is an 8-bit processor; the 8086 is 16-bit with segmented memory addressing up to 1 MB.

Ways an instruction specifies its operands, such as immediate, direct, register and indirect.

Computer architecture describes the features visible to a programmer, such as the instruction set, addressing modes and data types. Computer organization describes how those features are built in hardware, such as control signals, memory technology and interfaces. Two computers can share an architecture but differ in organization, for example in cache size or pipeline design.

A microprocessor is a single integrated circuit that contains a computer's central processing unit: the arithmetic logic unit, the control unit and the registers. It fetches, decodes and executes instructions from memory. Classic teaching examples are the 8-bit Intel 8085 and the 16-bit 8086, which many university courses use for assembly programming.

The price depends on the tutor and session length. You see the hourly rate before booking, with no subscription.

No. Tutors explain, guide and give feedback so you can complete your own work, in line with our academic integrity policy.

Offset bits come from block size, index bits from the number of lines, and the tag is the remaining bits.

Overlapping instruction stages so several instructions are processed at once.

A situation that prevents the next instruction executing in the next cycle: data, control or structural.

RISC uses simple, fixed-length instructions; CISC uses more complex instructions.

The four types in Flynn's classification are SISD, a single processor with one instruction and data stream; SIMD, one instruction on many data items, as in GPUs; MISD, which is rare; and MIMD, many processors running independently, as in multi-core systems. Separately, courses compare the von Neumann and Harvard memory architectures.

Direct-mapped places each block in one line; associative caches allow more flexibility and fewer conflicts.

Start with digital logic and how a simple CPU fetches, decodes and executes instructions. Then learn assembly language for one processor, followed by pipelining, cache and memory hierarchy. Numerical practice matters, especially cache mapping and pipeline timing. Your tutor works through these questions and the 8085 or 8086 programs your module uses.

A technique that maps virtual addresses to physical memory, using disk when needed.

Computer architecture sits between the two. It describes the hardware design visible to software, such as the instruction set, registers, addressing modes and memory organisation. It shapes how compilers and programs run, but it is mainly about hardware. Microprocessor courses then show it in practice, for example with 8085 or 8086 assembly programming.

Yes. Lessons are online, so you can book times that suit your time zone.

Yes. A tutor works through your microprocessors assignment topics with you, such as 8085 and 8086 programs, addressing modes, memory interfacing and interrupts, using similar examples and checking your logic. You then complete and submit your own work, so you understand it and can answer the same questions in your exam.