Computer Organization & Architecture
Approximate weightage in recent GATE CSE papers: ~9%
Official syllabus topics
- Machine instructions and addressing modes
- ALU, data-path and control unit
- Instruction pipelining and hazards
- Memory hierarchy: cache (mapping, misses), main memory, secondary storage
- I/O interface: interrupt and DMA modes
How to prepare
Cache and pipelining numericals repeat in patterns every year — drill PYQs by topic and the patterns become visible.