CSCI 4717 -- Test 2 Study Guide

Test 2 represents alot of material, although I believe there is less material than there was with Test 1. Below you will find a list of the topics that will be covered on Test 2. Included for each topic is the reading from the textbook for that topic. I've also tried to put together a list of the questions from previous year's tests that address that topic. You can find copies of those tests from the following links.

  • Fall 2005 Test 2 with answers and without answers
  • Fall 2006 Test 2 with answers and without answers
  • Fall 2005 Test 3 with answers and without answers
  • Fall 2006 Test 3 with answers and without answers
  • The format of the test will be like Test 1 with about 60% to 70% short answer questions 30% to 40% longer "descriptive " questions. Be sure to look at the questions from our in-class exercises and the homeworks.

    Topic Reading Notes Supporting Material
    I/O Chapter 7
    Intro to CPU Design Sections 10.3, 10.4, and 12.1 through 12.4  
    RISC Processors Chapter 13
    Superscalar Machines Chapter 12
    SMP and Clusters Sections 18.1 through 18.4
    Vector Computing Section 18.7  

    Below is a mapping of previous year's tests to questions that might look good for our second test.

    Topic Fall '05 Test 2 Fall '06 Test 2 Fall '05 Test 3 Fall '06 Test 3
    I/O 19 through 26 13 through 21    
    Registers     10 11, 12
    Pipelining     11 through 22 13 through 24
    RISC     23 through 26 25 through 29
    Superscalar     27 through 33 30 through 33
    SMP/Clusters     34 through 45 34 through 43
    Vector computing No old test questions
    Just be sure to look at the lecture notes