本书主要分为五个部分。第1部分讲述数字逻辑、逻辑门和数据表示的基础知识，重点是数据表示这一章，这是因为二进制补码运算和整数值域的概念是编程的基础。第Ⅱ、第Ⅲ和第Ⅳ部分分别介绍体系结构的三个基本组件：处理器、存储器和I/0系统。各章都为学生提供了充足的背景知识，以便理解系统操作机制及其对于程序员的意义。，第V部分讨论了一些高级论题，例如并行处理、流水线技术以及性能。本书为全英文版。
Douglas Comer博士在计算机系统领域有着广泛的知识背景，而且一直从事着软件和硬件的教学与研究工作。Comer在软件方面的研究工作横跨计算机系统的各个领域，包括编译器和操作系统。他构建过一个完整的操作系统，包括进程管理器、内存管理器以及串行接口和并行接口的设备
Preface
Chapter I Introduction And Overview
1.1 The Importance Of Architecture
1.2 Learning The Essentials
1.3 Organization Of The Text
1.4 What We Will Omit
1.5 Terminology: Architecture And Design
1.6 Summary
PART 1 Basics
Chapter 2 Fundamentals Of Digital Logic
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Electrical Terminology: Voltage And Current
2.3 The Transistor
2.4 Logic Gates
2.5 Symbols Used For Gates
2.6 Construction Of Gates From Transistors
2.7 Example lnterconnection Of Gates
2.8 Multiple Gates Per Integrated Circuit
2.9 The Need For More Than Combinatorial Circuits
2.10 Circuits That Maintain State
2.11 Transition Diagrams
2.12 Binary Counters
2.13 Clocks And Sequences
2.14 The Important Concept Of Feedback
2.15 Starting A Sequence
2.16 Iteration In Software Vs. Replication In Hardware
2.17 Gate And Chip Minimization
2.18 Using Spare Gates
2.19 Power Distribution And Heat Dissipation
2.20 Timing
2.21 Physical Size And Process Technologies
2.22 Circuit Boards And Layers
2.23 Levels Of Abstraction
2.24 Summary
Chapter 3 Data And Program Representation
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Digital Logic And Abstraction
3.3 Bits And Bytes
3.4 Byte Size And Possible Values
3.5 Binary Arithmetic
3.6 Hexadecimal Notation
3.7 Notation For Hexadecimal And Binary Constants
3.8 Character Sets
3.9 Unicode
3.10 Unsigned Integers, Overflow, And Underflow
3.11 Numbering Bits And Bytes
3.12 Signed Integers
3.13 An Example Of Two's Complement Numbers
3.14 Sign Extension
3.15 Floating Point
3.16 Special Values
3.17 Range Of lEEE Floating Point Values
3.18 Data Aggregates
3.19 Program Representation
3.20 Summary
PART 2 Processors
PART 3 Memories
