Computers as Components, 2nd Edition

3.4 Memory System Mechanisms 113

TheARM architecture provides support for up to 16 co-processors. Co-processors

are able to perform load and store operations on their own registers. They can also

move data between the co-processor registers and main ARM registers.

An example ARM co-processor is the floating-point unit. The unit occupies two

co-processor units in the ARM architecture, numbered 1 and 2, but it appears as a

single unit to the programmer. It provides eight 80-bit floating-point data registers,

floating-point status registers, and an optional floating-point status register.

3.4 MEMORY SYSTEM MECHANISMS

Modern microprocessors do more than just ...