DIGITAL INTEGRATED CIRCUIT TECHNOLOGY TRENDS: MICROPROCESSORS
Timothy J. Swanson, W. Chandler Blvd · 1995
The technology treadmill is evolving the microprocessor at a phenomenal rate. Today’s microprocessors have millions of transistors, operate at frequencies greater than IOOMHz, use process technologies with feature sizes less than 0.5 microns, and utilize sophisticated architecture techniques to maximize performance. This paper will survey the current technology trends in microprocessors. Topics include advanced architecture techniques like superscalar, branch prediction, on-chip cache memory and also process technology improvements. Within advanced architecture and process technology there are several possible improvement techniques. Superscalar and branch prediction work in concert to reduce