# Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach by Hennessy and Patterson

5 Hacker News commenters recommended Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach by Hennessy and Patterson and 0 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 5 of 13 months.

**Verdict:** People recommend it as a foundation for understanding hardware, algorithms and data structures, and as a book to keep returning to over a career.

## Why people recommend it

- Good first step into architecture (1 comments): "I recommend learning computer architecture first." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49302752))
- Seen as exchange rate for algorithms (1 comments): "It's the real life exchange rate for algorithms and data structures" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46487237))
- Can replace dozens of books (1 comments): "would serve the role of the "dozens of books" hyperbole rather well" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49718789))
- Kept as a lifelong reference (1 comments): "Hennessy/Patterson for life." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47051381))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [RISC-V System-on-Chip Design by Harris and Harris](https://hackerapproved.com/p/risc-v-system-on-chip-design.md): 6 recommend
- [Computation Structures by Ward and Halstead](https://hackerapproved.com/p/computation-structures.md): 5 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0128119055?tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)
- [Bookshop.org](https://bookshop.org/a/130825/9780128119051) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach by Hennessy and Patterson", https://hackerapproved.com/p/computer-architecture-a-quantitative-approach/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).