Computer Organization & Architecture

How CPUs execute instructions: the fetch-decode-execute cycle, memory hierarchy and pipelines.

intermediate~30 hours12 topics~23h of lessonsRoadmap Level 3

Seeing how a CPU executes instructions makes performance intuition concrete instead of magical.

RECOMMENDED BEFORE THIS
○ Programming with C

These are suggested first. You can still open any topic — this only helps you pick an order.

Prerequisites:Programming with C
Learning Path
07 stages
12 topics · 7 stages0/12 completed
01

Fundamentals

Start from zero. Build the vocabulary.

Number Systems and Boolean Algebra~75 minbeginnerCPU Components: ALU, Registers, Control Unit~60 minbeginner
02

Core Concepts

The ideas you cannot skip.

Fetch-Decode-Execute Cycle~75 minintermediateMemory Hierarchy and Cache~90 minintermediatePipelining~75 minadvanced
03

Intermediate

Connect ideas and go deeper.

Assembly Language and Addressing Modes~90 minintermediateInstruction Formats (RISC vs CISC)~60 minintermediate
04

Advanced

Beyond the basics.

Superscalar, Out-of-Order and SIMD~60 minadvancedI/O Systems and Storage~60 minintermediate
05

Practice

Solve problems until it sticks.

Practice Set: Architecture Problems~150 minintermediate
06

Projects

Apply everything in real work.

Project: Build a CPU in Logisim~480 minadvanced
07

Interview Prep

Convert knowledge into offers.

Architecture Interview Questions~90 minadvanced