Computer Architecture and Parallel Processing, 2nd Edition (PDF)

by Kai Hwang, Faye A. Briggs

From AI breakthroughs to space exploration, the world’s toughest problems demand more than raw computing power—they require intelligent design. Computer Architecture and Parallel Processing is your gateway to understanding the systems that power today’s high-stakes technologies.
This book takes you beyond traditional computing into the realm of high performance systems where speed, scale, and efficiency converge. Inside, you will uncover the building blocks of cutting-edge architectures—pipelined designs, array processors, and multiprocessor systems—along with the programming models that bring them to life.
With real-world case studies including Cray, IBM, and ILLIAC machines, you will see how theory meets practice in the race for faster computation. Explore how memory structures, interconnect networks, and parallel algorithms shape performance, and how smart software design unlocks hardware potential.
Whether you are a student preparing for advanced coursework or a professional seeking deeper technical insight, this book speaks your language. It does not just explain how parallel computing works—it shows you how to use it, design it, and innovate with it.
Featuring clear examples, programming illustrations in Fortran and concurrent Pascal, and curated reading suggestions, this edition is built for exploration and practical impact. Advanced topics are included for those
ready to push the boundaries even further.
If you are ready to think in parallel and design for performance, this book is your starting point.