The Principles of Computer Hardware, 3rd Ed.

By Alan Clements

Book Overview

Ideal for courses in computer hardware, architecture, or digital design, The Principles of Computer Hardware, 3/e, provides a comprehensive introduction to the subject. In Alan Clement's noted student-friendly style, it covers core topics including Boolean algebra and logic design; number bases and binary arithmetic; the CPU; assembly language; memory systems; and input/output methods and devices. It then continues with a discussion of the related topics of computer peripherals, the hardware aspects of the operating system, and data communications. This accessible text covers both the 68000 and ARM architectures in a tutorial/lab-based style suitable for a variety of courses. All chapters in this third edition have been rigorously updated. Powerful new Windows-based simulation software allows students to visualize the design of digital circuits. The chapter on RISC has been completely rewritten to include the ARM computer, and the tutorial-based introduction to assembly language now includes many examples.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0198564546
• ISBN13: 9780198564546
• Release Date: July 2000
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 736 Pages
• Weight: 3.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.7" x 9.9" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

Amazing book !

I am a Computer Science student at Tallinn University of Technology, and I bought this book for Computer hardware class. It is the main book that our Computer Hardware teacher uses in class. I used this book ( Principles of Computer Hardware, 4th edition) along with Tanenbaum's "Structured computer organization" and I have to say it is a perfect combination. I was amazed how easy to understand the information in this book was. It is not the simplicity of "for dummies" books, but somehow the author managed to explain complicated subjects in an easy to understand way. It is well structured and organized, the material is covered thoroughly (there were quite a few explanations that helped me understand what Tanenbaum meant in his book :-)), there are a lot of very easy to understand illustrations with comments that truly help in understanding the material. The complicated topics are clearly presented, so I REALLY enjoyed reading it. I have to say that I learned a lot from this book, and many topics became really clear to me after reading it. Well, of course, as in almost every book, there were a few misprints in the book, but I think these are not critical to understanding the material. I am so glad I bought this book. So if you are a Computer Science student or just want a book that would help you with your self-education in Computer Hardware, don't hesitate and buy this book. I'm giving it 5 stars !

Great computer hardware book.

I had to use this textbook for my college principles of computer hardware class, but I found myself reading it when I didn't even have to by the end of the semester. Some complex ideas are discussed in here, but the authors lay it out to the reader in a friendly and easy-to-grasp manner. On the downside, as the other reviewer mentioned, there are quite a few errors in the logic diagrams, Karnaugh maps, and truth tables presented in the book. Also, the chapter order can be somewhat unintuitive, although that may be a matter of personal preference. If you have to get this book for a class, consider yourself lucky-- and if you are just looking to learn by yourself about computer hardware from the ground up, this book is a great way to go.

Good book covering core features of hardware

This is the textbook used in a computer hardware class I have taken - its a good read and has some clear explanations and good illustrated examples of the ideas - found several errors and typos in the logic diagrams and am not sure if their outlined in a errata supplement. some of the technology seems to be a bit dated in the later chapters, but the ideas still hold.- Overall a good introductory text book.