CS301: Computer Architecture

Watch this lecture, which presents basic ideas on improving processor performance through the use of pipelining. The previous video showed the limitations of a single cycle datapath design. To overcome the limitations and improve performance, a pipeline datapath design is considered. This video lecture explains pipelining. A pipeline datapath is analogous to an assembly line in manufacturing. First, you develop a skeleton design of a pipeline datapath. Performance analysis shows that several types of delays can arise, called hazards: structure, data, or control hazards. Design can address those arising from structure. However, data and control delays cannot always be prevented. The next video lecture will complete the design of a pipeline datapath for the simple processor.