Seminar in Computer Architecture - Lecture 1: Introduction and Logistics (Fall 2025)

Item: Seminar in Computer Architecture - Lecture 1: Introduction and Logistics (Fall 2025)
Rating: 4
Author: PostSingularity Institute

by Constantina (co-instructor), Prof. Onur Mutlu (lead instructor)

Applied Sciences & Engineering Computing & Cybersecurity UYComputer science UYFComputer architecture and logic design

🎙 Constantina (co-instructor), Prof. Onur Mutlu (lead instructor) 👥 64K 📅 September 19, 2025 ⏱ 92 min 👁 2K 📄 lecture 🧭 2026-08-16

Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

computer architectureseminarcourse logisticsresearch philosophyprocessing-in-memory

Summary

This lecture is the first session of the ‘Seminar in Computer Architecture’ course at ETH Zürich, Fall 2025, led by Prof. Onur Mutlu. The co-instructor Constantina introduces the course structure, instructors, and the Safari research group’s mission. The lecture emphasizes the importance of co-design across the computing stack, from algorithms to hardware, to achieve energy-efficient and high-performance systems. It outlines the course’s focus on critical analysis of research papers, active participation, and developing presentation skills. The instructor discusses various computing platforms, from mobile devices to supercomputers, highlighting the diversity of design goals. Key research areas include processing-in-memory, hardware security, and bioinformatics. The lecture also covers the philosophy of impactful research, referencing Richard Hamming’s advice. Practical details such as paper assignments, presentation expectations, and the importance of open-source contributions are explained. The session concludes with a summary of the course’s objectives and the virtual cycle of teaching and research.

148 words

Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The lecture provides valuable insights into the philosophy and methodology of computer architecture research, emphasizing the importance of co-design and critical thinking. The argumentation is coherent, building from the group’s mission to the course’s practical implementation. The instructor effectively justifies the need for a holistic approach to system design, citing examples like GPUs and processing-in-memory. The discussion on impactful research, including references to Richard Hamming, adds depth and practical advice. However, the lecture is introductory and does not delve into technical details, which is appropriate for the first session.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The lecture is scientifically rigorous, with references to recommended readings and prior work by the Safari group. The sources cited are credible, including arXiv papers and publications from ETH Zürich. The title accurately reflects the content, which is an introduction to the course and its logistics. The lecture does not present new research but rather sets the stage for the seminar, ensuring alignment with the course’s objectives.

171 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content: an introductory lecture covering course logistics, objectives, and research directions.

Quality & Reliability

8/10

Lecture by a recognized expert in computer architecture, with clear structure and references to published research. The content is introductory and focuses on course logistics and research philosophy, which is reliable but not deeply technical.

Key Moments

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

Cited Sources

A Modern Primer on Processing in Memory — Recommended reading for the course, covering processing-in-memory concepts.
Memory-Centric Computing: Solving Computing's Memory Problem — Recommended reading on memory-centric computing.
Memory-Centric Computing: Recent Advances in Processing-in-DRAM — Recommended reading on recent advances in processing-in-DRAM.
Intelligent Architectures for Intelligent Computing Systems — Recommended reading on intelligent architectures.
RowHammer: A Retrospective — Recommended reading on RowHammer vulnerability.
Fundamentally Understanding and Solving RowHammer — Recommended reading on RowHammer solutions.
Accelerating Genome Analysis via Algorithm-Architecture Co-Design — Recommended reading on genome analysis acceleration.
From Molecules to Genomic Variations: Accelerating Genome Analysis via Intelligent Algorithms and Architectures — Recommended reading on intelligent genome analysis.
Seminar in Computer Architecture Fall 2025 Schedule — Course schedule and materials.
Lecture Slides (PDF) — Slides used in the lecture.
Lecture Slides (PPTX) — Slides used in the lecture.

Concurring Sources

A Modern Primer on Processing in Memory — Aligns with the lecture's emphasis on processing-in-memory as a key research direction.
Memory-Centric Computing: Solving Computing's Memory Problem — Supports the lecture's discussion on memory-centric architectures.
RowHammer: A Retrospective — Relevant to the lecture's mention of hardware security.

External References

Contribution & Novelties

This lecture provides an overview of the seminar’s goals and the Safari research group’s philosophy, emphasizing co-design and critical analysis. It does not present new research but sets the stage for the course. The ‘Pour aller plus loin’ section suggests further exploration of key topics.

Pour aller plus loin :

Processing-in-Memory — Overview of processing-in-memory concepts.
RowHammer — Explanation of the RowHammer vulnerability.
Computer Architecture — Foundational concepts in computer architecture.
Richard Hamming’s ‘You and Your Research’ — Transcript of Hamming’s influential talk on impactful research.

86 words

Radar Profile

The radar profile shows high scores in quality of information and reliability, reflecting the expert source and clear structure. The quantity of information and technical level are moderate, as expected for an introductory lecture. The overall balance indicates a solid foundation for the course.

Reliability 8/10