Chapter 1 of 'Computer Organization and Design: The Hardware/Software Interface' discusses key concepts in computer abstractions and technology, emphasizing the evolution of computers influenced by Moore's Law, the types of computers, and the transition to a post-PC era with mobile devices. It covers how software translates into machine language, the hardware/software interface, performance determinants, and various strategies for enhancing performance, including parallel processing and pipelining. The chapter also examines the role of integrated circuits, trends in technology, and the importance of various benchmarks in measuring performance.
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