1. Introduction to the R10000 Processor

1.9 Performance


As it executes programs, the R10000 superscalar processor performs many operations in parallel. Instructions can also be executed out of order. Together, these two facts greatly improve performance, but they also make it difficult to predict the time required to execute any section of a program, since it often depends on the instruction mix and the critical dependencies between instructions.

The processor has five largely independent execution units, each of which are individualized for a specific class of instructions. Any one of these units may limit processor performance, even as the other units sit idle. If this occurs, instructions which use the idle units can be added to the program without adding any appreciable delay.




Copyright 1995, MIPS Technologies, Inc. -- 29 JAN 96


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