Digital Design and Computer Architecture, 2nd Edition

7

MicroarchitectureWith contributions from Matthew Watkins

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Performance Analysis

7.3 Single-Cycle Processor

7.4 Multicycle Processor

7.5 Pipelined Processor

7.6 HDL Representation*

7.7 Exceptions*

7.8 Advanced Microarchitecture*

7.9 Real-World Perspective: x86 Microarchitecture*

7.10 Summary

 Exercises

 Interview Questions

7.1 Introduction

In this chapter, you will learn how to piece together a MIPS microprocessor. Indeed, you will puzzle out three different versions, each with different trade-offs between performance, cost, and complexity.

To the uninitiated, building a microprocessor may seem like black magic. But ...