The Final will focus on the material since test 2, but there will be some comprehensive questions (about 35%) to see how well you understand the "big picture" of Computer Architecture as a whole.

Chapter 19. Input/Output Organization

I/O Controller role and function

I/O address mapping: Isolated-I/O vs. memory-mapped I/O

I/O Data Transfer: programmed I/O, interrupt-driven I/O, and direct-memory access (DMA)

Error Dection and Correction: parity, Hamming code

Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC)

External Interface: parallel vs serial, asynchronous vs. synchronous

General idea behind SCSI, USB, IEEE 1394

Chapter 20. Interrupts

General interrupt mechanism of the Pentium

Comparison of interrupts and procedures

Types of interrupts: software interrupt, hardware interrupt, exceptions

Maskable vs. nonmaskable interrupts

Usage of interrupts by the hardware/operating system to restrict a user program's activities