Fall 2026

Advanced Computer Architecture II

Advanced study of parallel algorithms, MIMD machines, synchronization, and data coherence in computer architecture.

no offering record for this termCredits unavailable
Recorded instructors · Fall 2026 No instructors listed

Summary

1 / 5

Historical reviews of Joshua San Miguel: The course involves reading papers and a semester-long project, which can be challenging without prior architecture understanding. Exams are described as straightforward or easy relative to the content, but the readings are interesting and challenging.

Grade history

average GPA
letter grades
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All recorded terms · compare terms & instructors

Prerequisites

Course map

Graduate/professional standing

  • Graduate/professional standing
COMPSCI/ECE 757

This is a best-effort interpretation; check the catalog requirements above.

Prerequisite text tree
  • Graduate/professional standing

Professors

Fall 2026

No instructors recorded for this selection.

Historical instructors & teaching patterns

Historical reviews of Mark Hill: Mark Hill is a world expert who presents material clearly and offers practical industry insights, though his handwriting is poor. He is described as caring, enthusiastic, and funny, effectively conveying complex information to students.

MARK D. HILL is recorded teaching in Spring 2008, Spring 2010, Spring 2012, Spring 2014, Spring 2016, Spring 2019. Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

Recorded history may be incomplete and does not establish a future schedule.

Calendar & sections

Fall 2026

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SectionModeEnrolled / capacityWaitlist

Times are Central. Select a meeting for details; export includes recorded dates for the selected sections.

Meeting source records

No records available.

Student experience

the class

Historical reviews of Joshua San Miguel: Joshua San Miguel is a highly recommended, engaging instructor who makes complex architecture concepts accessible through clear lectures and analogies. Students value his dedication, helpful feedback, and the practical relevance of the course material for interviews.

Recent recorded grades — Spring 2024: 4.00 GPA, 100.0% A/AB (n=42 letter grades); Spring 2025: 3.70 GPA, 82.8% A/AB (n=64 letter grades); Spring 2026: 3.95 GPA, 96.8% A/AB (n=31 letter grades).

difficulty & workload

Historical reviews of Joshua San Miguel: The course involves reading papers and a semester-long project, which can be challenging without prior architecture understanding. Exams are described as straightforward or easy relative to the content, but the readings are interesting and challenging.

Historical reviews of Joshua San Miguel: Students appreciate the engaging lectures, light humor, and willingness to answer questions. The provided reading materials are considered very helpful, and the course is seen as beneficial for career preparation.

Topics

  • Parallel algorithms
  • Parallelism detection and vectorizing compilers
  • Interconnection networks
  • MIMD machines
  • Processor synchronization
  • Data coherence
  • Dataflow machines
  • Special purpose processors

Skills

  • Analysis and design of parallel algorithms and systems.
  • Understanding parallelism detection and vectorizing compilers.
  • Study of interconnection networks, synchronization, and data coherence.

Grades

Latest available · Spring 2026— not enough history to project Fall 2026.

average GPA
A / AB grades
letter grades
Instructor

Grade distribution · % of letter grades

A
AB
B
BC
C
D
F

Grades over time

Through Spring 2026

More grade details Grade mix, volume & source data

Where this course fits relative to

Latest available grades · Spring 2026 · all course levels

GPA

Higher than % of other courses in this group.

Course GPAs · red marks this course’s range

letter grades

More recorded grades than % of other courses in this group.

Typical course in this group: letter grades.

About this comparison

1283 courses over the same term, each with at least 30 recorded letter grades. Cross-listed courses count once. GPA is not a measure of difficulty or teaching quality. The typical course is the median by recorded grade count; tied values are not counted as lower. Grade counts describe course scale, not unique students or typical section size.

Descriptions compare GPA with this group’s average: at least 0.20 higher or lower; otherwise close to average. Section size uses median recorded enrollment: small up to 30, mid-sized 31–99, large 100+. Lectures and discussion/lab sections are described separately.

Sources & history

UW–Madison

Catalog & offerings

Descriptions, prerequisites, and recorded course offerings.

Catalog observation history

Observations at scan time; dates do not imply when a catalog change took effect.

Selected offering source records

No offering records for the selected term.

Raw records
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Rate My Professors

Student reviews

Original comments behind the course and instructor summaries.

Read original reviews
Madgrades

Grade history

Recorded grade distributions by term, section, and instructor.

Explore recorded grades
Model outputs & technical records
nvidia/Qwen3.6-35B-A3B-NVFP4
LLM outputs across runs
Full model traces

Recorded model configuration, reasoning, and tool conversations.

Model & dataset provenance
{
  "model": "nvidia/Qwen3.6-35B-A3B-NVFP4",
  "model_revision": "1355db6a052410cfd62085d94b58866fd0f2c3c5",
  "task_version": "14",
  "output_id": "b97ad1d63b949cc98f99121f097300f85123195f878743ec620de403edae0047",
  "requirements_status": "valid",
  "dataset_revision": "e243353dcb7d79b7247ced91d69443ef4c2a6349",
  "observed_at": "2026-09-07 15:55:43.033547+00:00"
}