Digital Design & Computer Architecture - Problem Solving III (Spring 2022)
•February 25, 2026
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Why It Matters
Memory‑centric design is reshaping performance and security in computing, making these materials essential for engineers and researchers tackling next‑generation architectures.
Key Takeaways
- •Lecture focuses on memory‑centric computing challenges
- •RowHammer vulnerability receives detailed retrospective analysis
- •Processing‑in‑memory papers highlight emerging architectural paradigms
- •Extensive video playlists support self‑paced learning
- •Mutlu’s public talks bridge research and industry applications
Pulse Analysis
The "Problem Solving III" lecture, presented by Professor Onur Mutlu, serves as a deep dive into the evolving landscape of memory‑centric computing. By coupling traditional digital design fundamentals with cutting‑edge research on processing‑in‑memory (PIM) and intelligent architectures, the session equips students with a holistic view of how memory can become a computational substrate rather than a passive storage element. The accompanying slide deck and curated reading list—featuring works such as "A Modern Primer on Processing in Memory" and the RowHammer retrospectives—provide concrete examples of how hardware vulnerabilities and novel memory technologies drive architectural innovation.
Beyond the core lecture, Mutlu’s extensive video library offers a multi‑year archive of related content, from foundational computer‑architecture courses to specialized talks on genome‑analysis acceleration and intelligent machine design. This breadth of material enables professionals to trace the historical progression of memory system research, understand the practical implications of security flaws like RowHammer, and explore emerging solutions that leverage near‑data processing. By integrating these resources, learners can bridge theoretical concepts with real‑world implementations, fostering a skill set that aligns with industry demands for energy‑efficient, high‑performance computing.
For businesses and research labs, the insights from this lecture series underscore the strategic importance of rethinking memory hierarchies. As data volumes explode and latency constraints tighten, architectures that co‑locate compute and memory promise substantial gains in throughput and power efficiency. Companies investing in PIM technologies or hardened memory controllers can gain a competitive edge, while academic institutions can use the curated content to train the next generation of architects capable of addressing both performance and security challenges inherent in modern systems.
Original Description
Digital Design and Computer Architecture, ETH Zürich, Spring 2022 (https://safari.ethz.ch/digitaltechnik/spring2022/)
Problem Solving III
Lecturer: Professor Onur Mutlu (https://people.inf.ethz.ch/omutlu/)
Date: July 19, 2022
Problem Solving III Slides (pptx): https://safari.ethz.ch/digitaltechnik/spring2022/lib/exe/fetch.php?media=onur-digitaldesign_comparch-2022-problem-solving-iii-beforelecture.pptx
Problem Solving III Slides (pdf): https://safari.ethz.ch/digitaltechnik/spring2022/lib/exe/fetch.php?media=onur-digitaldesign_comparch-2022-problem-solving-iii-beforelecture.pdf
Recommended Reading:
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A Modern Primer on Processing in Memory
Intelligent Architectures for Intelligent Computing Systems
RowHammer: A Retrospective
Fundamentally Understanding and Solving RowHammer
RECOMMENDED LECTURE VIDEOS & PLAYLISTS:
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Computer Architecture Fall 2021 Lectures Playlist:
Digital Design and Computer Architecture Spring 2021 Livestream Lectures Playlist:
Featured Lectures:
Interview with Professor Onur Mutlu:
The Story of RowHammer Lecture:
Accelerating Genome Analysis Lecture:
Memory-Centric Computing Systems Tutorial at IEDM 2021:
Intelligent Architectures for Intelligent Machines Lecture:
Computer Architecture Fall 2020 Lectures Playlist:
Digital Design and Computer Architecture Spring 2020 Lectures Playlist:
Public Lectures by Onur Mutlu, Playlist:
Computer Architecture at Carnegie Mellon Spring 2015 Lectures Playlist:
Rethinking Memory System Design Lecture @stanfordonline :
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