Processors

• Execute programs

  • Serial execution of instructions
  • Simple, Universal

• Instruction execution engine: fetch/execute cycle

  • flow of control determined by modifications to program counter
  • instruction classes:
    • data: move, arithmetic and logical operations
    • control: branch, loop, subroutine call
    • interface: load, store from external memory

• Traditional architecture goal: Performance

  • Caches
  • Branch prediction
  • Multiple/OOO issue

Next slide

Back to first slide

View graphic version