CS80E: Dissecting The Modern Computer 🖥️

Fall Enrollment Notice 🚨

Last time I checked, enrollment for CS80E this fall was closed due to capacity (one of the 3 C's of classroom enrollment!). Fear not; if you're interesting in taking CS80E, please come to the first class. People will be coming and going during the shopping period, so I'm fairly confident that we'll be able to accommodate everyone who wants to take the class by the end of week 3. If you have any particular questions or concerns about enrollment, send me an email (trip "at" cs.stanford.edu).

About CS80E 🔍

CS80E is a survey course that aims to give students a taste of how computer hardware interacts with software. This class will provide a broad introduction to various aspects of digital systems and computer architecture, including digital circuits, processors, the memory hierarchy, and other miscellaneous hardware components like GPU's. Whether you're just entering the field of Computer Science and are eager to learn about hardware, or you're almost done with your degree and you realize that you'd like to learn more about how computers actually work, this is the class for you!

Schedule 🗓️

Week 1 Introduction: Syllabus + Class Motivation

Assignment 0 (Getting to know you) Out
From the Real World to 1's and 0's
Week 2 Digital Systems I Digital Systems II

Assignment 0 Due
Assignment 1 (Digital Systems) Out
Week 3 ISA I No Class -- Trip is away
Week 4 ISA II

Assignment 1 Due
Assignment 2 (RISC-y Business) Out
Processors I
Week 5 Processors II Processors III

Assignment 2 Due
Assignment 3 (Processor Exploration with Ripes) Out
Week 6 Memory I Memory Hierarchy II

Assignment 3 Due
Week 7 Democracy Day -- No classes Caches + Cache Coherence

Assignment 4 (SCache) Out
Week 8 Caches + Cache Coherence II Guest Lecture on Formal Verification

Week 9 Security in Hardware

GPU's
Assignment 4 Due (recommended deadline)
THANKSGIVING RECESS
Week 10 TBD -- Class-Chosen Bonus Topic!
Assignment 4 Due (hard deadline)
Assignment 5 Out
Course Wrap-up: Fun topics + Where to go from here!

Assignment 5 Due at the end of Week 11