Processor Design

CISC Processor Design: Defining microprocessor, hardware flowchart, implementing from flowchart, exception, control store, microcode design. RISC Processor Design: Building datapath and controller, single cycle implementation, multi cycle implementation, pipelined implementation, exception and hazards handling. (Example: DLX Processor) Superscalar Processors Design: Superscalar organization, superscalar pipeline overview, VLSI implementation of dynamic pipelines, register renaming, reservation station, re-ordering buffers, branch predictor, and dynamic instruction scheduler etc.; simultaneous multi-threading (SMT) design. (Example: Open SPARC T1) Memory System Design. Application specific instruction set processor (ASIP) design. Dynamic reconfigurable processors (DRP). Impact of physical technology, trends in power consumption, low power techniques, low voltage techniques, clock distribution. Verification and test challenges.