Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

The University of Texas at Austin

EE 460N, Fall 2016
Problem Set 3
Due date: Oct. 31st
Yale N. Patt, Instructor
Siavash Zangeneh, Ali Fakhrzadehgan, Steven Flolid, Matthew Normyle, TAs
  1. The following problem was postponed from PS2:

    A computer has an 8KB write-through cache. Each cache block is 64 bits, the cache is 4-way set associative and uses a victim/next-victim pair of bits for each block for its replacement policy. Assume a 24-bit address space and byte-addressable memory. How big (in bits) is the tag store?

  2. The following problem was postponed from PS2:

    An LC-3b system ships with a two-way set associative, write back cache with perfect LRU replacement. The tag store requires a total of 4352 bits of storage. What is the block size of the cache? Please show all your work.

    Hint: 4352 = 212 + 28.

  3. The following problem was postponed from PS2:

    Based on Hamacher et al., p. 255, question 5.18. You are working with a computer that has a first level cache that we call L1 and a second level cache that we call L2. Use the following information to answer the questions.

    1. What is the average access time per instruction (assume no interleaving)?
    2. What is the average access time per instruction if the main memory is 4-way interleaved?
    3. What is the average access time per instruction if the main memory is 8-way interleaved?
    4. What is the improvement obtained with interleaving?
  4. The following problem was postponed from PS2:

    Hamacher, pg.255, question 5.13. A byte-addressable computer has a small data cache capable of holding eight 32-bit words. Each cache block consists of one 32-bit word. When a given program is executed, the processor reads data from the following sequence of hex addresses:

    200, 204, 208, 20C, 2F4, 2F0, 200, 204, 218, 21C, 24C, 2F4

    This pattern is repeated four times.

    1. Show the contents of the cache at the end of each pass throughout this loop if a direct-mapped cache is used. Compute the hit rate for this example. Assume that the cache is initially empty.

    2. Repeat part (a) for a fully-associative cache that uses the LRU-replacement algorithm.

    3. Repeat part (a) for a four-way set-associative cache that uses the LRU replacement algorithm.

  5. The following problem was postponed from PS2:

    Below, we have given you four different sequences of addresses generated by a program running on a processor with a data cache. Cache hit ratio for each sequence is also shown below. Assuming that the cache is initially empty at the beginning of each sequence, find out the following parameters of the processor's data cache:

    Assumptions: all memory accesses are one byte accesses. All addresses are byte addresses.

    Address traces
    NumberAddress SequenceHit Ratio
    10, 2, 4, 8, 16, 320.33
    20, 512, 1024, 1536, 2048, 1536, 1024, 512, 00.33
    30, 64, 128, 256, 512, 256, 128, 64, 00.33
    40, 512, 1024, 0, 1536, 0, 2048, 5120.25
  6. Explain the differences between exceptions and interrupts. Be concise in your explanations.

    Explain the similarities of exceptions and interrupts. Clearly describe the steps required to handle an exception or an interrupt.

  7. In class, we discussed the asynchronous finite state machine for the device controller of an input-output device within the context of a priority arbitration system. Draw the state diagram for this device controller (as drawn in lecture), identify the input and output signals, and briefly explain the function of each input and output signal.

    In class, we mentioned two race conditions that existed in the finite state machine. Describe the race conditions and show what simple modifications can be made to eliminate them.

    Last updated 10/21/2016
  8. In class we discussed asynchronous buses with central arbitration. Our job in this problem is to design the state machine for a synchronous bus using distributed arbitration. Recall that with distributed arbitration, each device receives the Bus Request signals from all other devices, and determines whether or not it is the next Bus Master. Assume all bus transactions take exactly one cycle, and that no device may be the Bus Master for two consecutive cycles.

    Assume four devices, having priorities 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively. Their respective controllers request the bus via asserting BR1, BR2, BR3, and BR4 respectively. Priority 4 is the highest priority.

    1. Show the interconnections required for distributed arbitration for the four devices and their controllers connected to the bus. Be sure to label each signal line and designate by arrows whether the signals are input or output with respect to the device.

    2. Is it possible for starvation to occur in this configuration? Describe the situation where this can occur.

    3. Assume each I/O Controller is implemented using a clocked finite state machine. Draw a Moore model state machine for the controller operating at priority level 2. Label each state clearly. Label all necesary inputs and outputs. You do not need to show the clock signal on the state machine diagram. State transitions are synchronized to the clock.

  9. Moved to PS4.

    Determine the decimal value of the following IEEE floating point numbers.

    1. 1 10000000 10100000000000000000000
    2. 0 00000000 01010000000000000000000
    3. 1 11111111 00000000000000000000000
  10. Moved to PS4.

    Using a residue number system with two moduli, represent all of the decimal values between 0 and 11 inclusive when the moduli are

    1. 4 and 3
    2. 6 and 2
  11. Moved to PS4.

    Using the Booth Multiplication Algorithm, multiply the two unsigned 10-bit numbers 0011011110 and 0001110010. Show the intermediate results after each step.

  12. Moved to PS4.

    From Tanenbaum, 4th edition, Appendix B, 4.

    The following binary floating-point number consists of a sign bit, an excess 63, radix 2 exponent, and a 16-bit fraction. Express the value of this number as a decimal number.

    0 0111111 0000001111111111

  13. Moved to PS4.

    From Tanenbaum, 4th edition, Appendix B, 5.

    To add two floating point numbers, you must adjust the exponents (by shifting the fraction) to make them the same. Then you can add the fractions and normalize the result, if need be. Add the single precision IEEE floating-point numbers 3EE00000H and 3D800000H and express the normalized result in hexadecimal. ['H' is a notation indicating these numbers are in hexadecimal]

  14. Moved to PS4.

    From Tanenbaum, 4th edition, Appendix B, 6.

    The Tightwad Computer Company has decided to come out with a machine having 16-bit floating-point numbers. The model 0.001 has a floating-point format with a sign bit, 7-bit, excess 63 exponent and 8-bit fraction. Model 0.002 has a sign bit, 5-bit, excess 15 exponent and a 10-bit fraction. Both use radix 2 exponentiation. What are the smallest and largest positive normalized numbers on both models? About how many decimal digits of precision does each have? Would you buy either one?

  15. Moved to PS4.

    The following numbers are represented exactly with a 9-bit floating point representation, in the format of the IEEE Floating Point standard:

    -infinity, -1, 0, 5/16, 19.5, 48.

    1. How many bits are needed for the fraction?
    2. What is the bias?
    3. Write each number in in the 9-bit floating point representation, below:
      Value Representation
      48                                                 
      19.5  
      5/16  
      0  
      -1  
      -infinity  
  16. Consider the following format for transmitting a byte of data using the ECC mechanism described in class (Hamming Code).

    
    D7 D6 D5 D4 P8 D3 D2 D1 P4 D0 P2 P1
    

    For the following bit pattern, indicate whether there is no error or a single error. If there is a single error, list the corrected bit pattern.

    In general, what happens when there are two bit errors with this mechanism?