CS 433 / CSE 422

Computer System Organization

Course at a Glance

Instructor Saugata Ghose
Teaching Assistant TA: Sudhanshu Agarwal
Course Assistant CA: Hanbo Guo

Course Times Tue/Thu 12:30 PM – 1:45 PM Central

Location 1000 Lincoln Hall

Announcements / Q&A Campuswire

Assignments Gradescope


CS 433 / CSE 422 is a combined undergraduate/graduate course at the University of Illinois that covers essential topics on computer hardware design, and its interface with software. In the course, we will study foundational concepts that enable modern computer architectures, such as out-of-order processing, the memory hierarchy, virtualization, and parallel processing hardware. Students will complete regular homework assignments, in addition to a midterm exam and a final exam. Graduate students will also read research papers on computer architecture, and present one paper to the class.

Prerequisite: CS 233 or equivalent

Office Hours

  • Mondays, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM, 0222 Siebel Center for Comp Sci
  • Tuesdays, 1:45 PM – 2:30 PM, 4120 Siebel Center for Comp Sci
  • Wednesdays, 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM, 0222 Siebel Center for Comp Sci
  • Thursdays, 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM, 0222 Siebel Center for Comp Sci
  • Thursdays, 3:15 PM – 4:00 PM, 4120 Siebel Center for Comp Sci
  • Fridays, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM, 0222 Siebel Center for Comp Sci

Course Description

Computer hardware design and analysis and interface with software. Advanced processor design, including superscalar, out-of-order issue, branch prediction, and speculation. Memory hierarchy design, including advanced cache optimizations, main memory, and virtual memory. Principles of multiprocessor design, including shared-memory, cache coherence, synchronization, and consistency. Other advanced topics depending on time; e.g., GPUs and accelerators, warehouse computers and data centers, security.