Thoroughly, revised and updated, this second edition of The Essentials of Computer Organization and Architecture is a comprehensive resource that addresses all of the necessary organization and architecture topics, yet is concise enough to cover in a single semester. Created in direct correlation to the ACM-IEEE Computing Curricula 2001 guidelines, this text exposes the inner workings of a modern digital computer through an integrated presentation of fundamental concepts and principles. The authors present real-world examples and focus on practical applications, thus encouraging students to develop a "big- picture" understanding of how essential organization and architecture concepts are applied in the world of computing.