Includes bibliographical references.

Part One: Introduction: Basic concepts and computer evolution -- Performance issues -- Part Two: The computer system: A top-level view of computer function and interconnection -- Cache memory -- Internal memory -- External memory -- Input/ output -- Operating system support -- Part three: Arithmetic and logic: Number systems -- Computer arithmetic -- Digital logic -- Part Four: The central processing unit: Instruction sets: characteristics and functions -- Instruction sets: addressing modes and formats -- Processor structure and function -- Reduced instruction set computers -- Instruction-level parallelism and superscalar processor -- Part Five: Parallel organization: Parallel processing -- Multicore computers -- General-purpose graphic processing units -- Part Six: The control unit: Control unit operation -- Microprogrammed control.