Browse Books

Reviewer: James Van Speybroeck

This massive and highly detailed work on computer systems and analysis reminds me in some ways of the calculus texts of Apostol and Olmstead. The second edition contains changes demanded by the evolution of the field, but also some conceptual changes. Chapter 1 discusses the fundamentals of computer design. Chapter 2 explains instruction set principles and examples. Chapters 3 and 4 are highly detailed and elegant descriptions of pipelining. Chapter 5 provides a standard but thorough treatment of memory hierarchy design. Chapter 6 covers all aspects of storage systems. Chapter 7 is concerned with interconnection networks. The text concludes with a chapter on multiprocessors. An interesting feature of every chapter is a section titled “Putting It All Together.” These sections usually encapsulate much of the material in an example of legitimate interest to professionals. Five appendices form a “text within the text.” The first appendix is a 72-page mini-text on computer arithmetic by David Goldberg. Appendix B covers vector processors. Appendix C is a survey of RISC architectures (a wise choice for inclusion). Appendix D explores the alternative to RISC, namely, the Intel 80x86. Finally, Appendix E examines protocol implementation issues. The exercises are magnificent. They require a blend of discipline and creativity on the part of the reader. This book is everything a sequel should be.