1.1.1 Structure And Function Of The Processor- (d. Pipelining for efficiency)

What is pipelinning?

Pipelining is a feature which allows more processor operations to take place in less time.

What is a idle processor?

Processors typically complete one instruction before moving on to the next.

This means parts of the processor are idle while the instruction is completed.

This is an inefficient process.

What is the effect of pipelinning?

Pipelines ensure as much of the processor is in use all at one time and increase efficiency of the computer system.

What pipelines are they split into?

Instruction Pipeline.

Arithmetic Pipeline.

What does the instruction pipeline do?

The instruction pipeline will pre-fetch the next instruction and data and store it in a register.

As one instruction leaves the current instruction register (CIR), the next one is ready to be loaded and decoded.

At any given point, there are instructions being fetched, decoded and executed.

What does the arithmetic pipeline do?

The arithmetic pipeline divides up an arithmetic operation into its individual steps.

Each step is performed overlapping the next step.