I'm on the hunt for some great books that really dive into computer architecture, particularly how CPUs operate. I'd love to build a solid mental model of how CPUs process information, manage memory, utilize caching layers, and understand concepts like word sizes, different architectures, padding, and alignment. Are there any recommended books or resources that cover these topics comprehensively? I'm open to courses or YouTube videos, but books are my top priority.
2 Answers
One book I'd definitely suggest is "A Primer on Memory Consistency and Cache Coherence." It covers a lot of useful info for understanding these concepts, though some parts might be a bit dense.
You should check out "Inside The Machine" by Jon Stokes. It's quite accessible and written by a solid author who used to contribute to Ars Technica. Definitely worth a read!
And after you finish that, I'd recommend watching "Drinking From The Firehose" on YouTube. It covers the Mill CPU and is super interesting!
Sounds great! I love beginner-friendly materials.
I found that book was a bit too technical for my liking. It has some heavy terms that might not suit your needs.