1.1.6

Pipelining

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Pipelining

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

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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.
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Effect of pipelining

  • Pipelines ensure as much of the processor is in use all at one time and increase efficiency of the computer system.
  • Pipelining is usually split into two pipelines:
    • Instruction Pipeline.
    • Arithmetic Pipeline.
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Instruction pipeline

  • 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.
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Arithmetic pipeline

  • The arithmetic pipeline divides up an arithmetic operation into its individual steps.
  • Each step is performed overlapping the next step.

Jump to other topics

1Components of a Computer

2Software & Software Development

3Exchanging Data

4Data Types, Data Structures & Algorithms

5Legal, Moral, Cultural & Ethical Issues

6Elements of Computational Thinking

6.1Thinking Abstractly

6.2Thinking Ahead

6.3Thinking Procedurally

6.4Thinking Logically

6.5Thinking Concurrently

7Problem Solving & Programming

8Algorithms

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