Survey and evaluation of simulators suitable for teaching for computer architecture and organization Supporting undergraduate students at Sir Syed University of Engineering Technology

摘要

Advancement in computer system hardware makes it difficult to meet the demands of teaching computer architecture and organization. Visualization of different architectures enhances the learning process among students by using simulators. This paper attempts to give a survey on the following simulators (1) Electrical Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) was the first electronic digital universal computer built at Pennsylvania University in 1944-1946., (2) The Visible Virtual Machine (VVM) based on Little Man Computer (LMC) which is general for von Newmann computer architecture, (3) MARS an Education-Oriented MIPS Assembly Language Simulator, (4) Logisim for simulating digital logic circuits and (5) SPIM for MIPS Assembly Language Simulator that are going to be taught in the course Computer Architecture and Organization by the faculty members. Also, evaluate the selected simulators according to the criteria established in the course meetings.