High-Performance Embedded Computing, 2nd Edition

Chapter 2

CPUs

Abstract

This chapter looks at processors. It considers several different styles of processors that are used in embedded systems. It covers techniques for tuning the performance of a processor, such as voltage scaling. It considers the role of the processor memory hierarchy in embedded CPUs. It looks at techniques used to optimize embedded CPUs, such as code compression and bus encoding. Finally, it reviews techniques for simulating processors.

Keywords

performance; cost; energy/power; non-metric characteristics; RISC; CISC; single issue; multiple issue; static scheduling; dynamic scheduling; vectors; threads; embedded; ARM; MIPS; Power Architecture; Intel Atom; VLIW; split register files; data operand sizes; subword parallelism;