Digital Design & Computer Architecture - Problem Solving IV (Spring 2022)

Onur Mutlu Lectures
Onur Mutlu LecturesFeb 26, 2026

Why It Matters

Understanding emerging memory vulnerabilities and processing‑in‑memory techniques is critical for building secure, high‑performance computing systems, and the lecture’s comprehensive resources accelerate both academic study and industry innovation.

Key Takeaways

  • Lecture covers processing‑in‑memory fundamentals
  • RowHammer vulnerabilities discussed with latest research
  • Resources include slides, papers, and video playlists
  • Emphasis on intelligent architectures for AI workloads
  • Materials support advanced computer architecture education

Pulse Analysis

The "Problem Solving IV" lecture, part of ETH Zürich’s renowned Digital Design & Computer Architecture series, serves as a deep dive into the evolving landscape of memory‑centric computing. Professor Onur Mutlu, a leading authority on memory systems, curates a blend of theoretical concepts and practical case studies, highlighting how processing‑in‑memory (PIM) can alleviate data movement bottlenecks in modern workloads. By referencing the recent arXiv primer on PIM and related intelligent architecture research, the session equips attendees with a forward‑looking perspective on integrating compute capabilities directly within memory arrays.

A significant portion of the lecture addresses the RowHammer phenomenon—a hardware‑level vulnerability that can corrupt data through aggressive row activation. The included retrospective paper and the latest arXiv analysis provide a comprehensive timeline of discovery, mitigation strategies, and open research challenges. This focus underscores the urgency for designers to embed robust error‑correction and access‑pattern monitoring into next‑generation DRAM and emerging memory technologies. By dissecting real‑world attacks and mitigation techniques, the lecture bridges the gap between academic insight and practical security engineering.

Beyond technical depth, the lecture’s extensive resource list—spanning slide decks, PDFs, and curated YouTube playlists—offers a self‑contained learning pathway for students, researchers, and industry professionals. The materials enable rapid upskilling in areas such as intelligent architectures for AI, genome analysis acceleration, and memory‑centric system design. As data‑intensive applications dominate the market, the knowledge disseminated through this lecture empowers stakeholders to innovate secure, efficient hardware solutions, reinforcing ETH Zürich’s role as a catalyst for next‑generation computer architecture advancements.

Original Description

Digital Design and Computer Architecture, ETH Zürich, Spring 2022 (https://safari.ethz.ch/digitaltechnik/spring2022/)
Problem Solving IV
Lecturer: Professor Onur Mutlu (https://people.inf.ethz.ch/omutlu/)
Date: August 5, 2022
Recommended Reading:
====================
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:
========================================
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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