Digital Design and Computer Architecture, ARM Edition

7

Microarchitecture

Outline

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 Advanced Microarchitecture*

7.8 Real-World Perspective: Evolution of ARM Microarchitecture*

7.9 Summary

Exercises

Interview Questions

7.1 Introduction

In this chapter, you will learn how to piece together a 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 it is actually relatively straightforward, and by this point you have learned everything you need to know. Specifically, you have learned to design combinational ...