ECGR 6090: Special Topics: Interconnection Networks for Modern Multicore Systems and Accelerators
University of North Carolina, Charlotte
Directed study of current topics of special interest. Section information text: This course provides an in-depth, systems-oriented introduction to interconnection networks that serve as the backbone of modern computing platforms, including multicore processors, GPUs, cloud-scale systems, and emerging chiplet-based AI accelerators. The course focuses on Network-on-Chip (NoC) fundamentals and extends to modern interconnect challenges driven by AI/ML workloads, accelerator-rich architectures, and advanced packaging (2.5D/3D integration and chiplets). Topics include interconnect design goals and metrics; topology design and analysis; routing algorithms and protocols (including deadlock/livelock considerations); switching and flow control; router microarchitecture and implementation tradeoffs; congestion management and quality-of-service; and case studies spanning CPU NoCs, GPU fabrics, TPU/accelerator interconnects, and chiplet/packaged systems. Students will also learn and apply simulation tools (e.g., BookSim, GEM5), read and discuss recent research papers, and understand how interconnect choices impact performance, efficiency, scalability, and reliability in modern systems.
Average GPA: 3.62
Grade distribution records: 707 students across 21 terms.
Grade distribution
| Grade | Students | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| A | 458 | 64.8% |
| B | 194 | 27.4% |
| C | 35 | 5.0% |
| W | 11 | 1.6% |
Based on 707 student grade records across 21 terms and 19 professors.
Instructors
- Arun Ravindran 279 students, Average GPA 3.65
- Arindam Mukherjee 65 students, Average GPA 3.70
- Ronald Sass 65 students, Average GPA 3.27
- Hamed Tabkhivayghan 56 students, Average GPA 3.65
- Fareena Saqib 42 students, Average GPA 3.46
- Tiefu Zhao 38 students, Average GPA 3.79
- Dipankar Maity 26 students, Average GPA 3.66
- Thomas Weldon 22 students, Average GPA 3.55
- Vasilije Lukic 21 students, Average GPA 3.81
- Yong Zhang 21 students, Average GPA 3.50
- Andrew Willis 16 students, Average GPA 3.54
- Chen Chen 16 students, Average GPA 3.94
- Ahmed Arafa 10 students, Average GPA 3.33
- Sukumar Kamalasadan 9 students, Average GPA 4.00
- Abasifreke Ebong 7 students, Average GPA 4.00
- Badrul Chowdhury 4 students, Average GPA 2.75
- Bharatkumar Joshi 4 students, Average GPA 4.00
- Mario Junior Mencagli 4 students, Average GPA 3.25
- Ke Wang 1 students, Average GPA 4.00