Superpipeline Architecture - HP Vectra XW Optimization Manual

Three Pipelines
Micro-ops
Multiple Execution Units

Superpipeline Architecture

The key to the Pentium Pro processor's improved performance is its
superpipelined architecture, which allows it to execute instructions
more quickly. Each instruction is executed in a number of steps through
a mechanism called a pipeline. In fact the Pentium Pro processor uses
three pipelines, which allows it to execute more than one instruction
simultaneously. Each Pentium Pro's pipeline consists of up to 14
individual steps.
Pipelines have been used by previous generations of processors, such
as the i486™ and the Pentium, to accelerate instruction execution. The
reason for this is that x86 compatible instructions require a number of
separate operations to complete. By using a pipeline, these processors
are able to queue instructions through the individual operations so that
one instruction can be completed with each clock cycle.
The Pentium Pro processor takes the pipeline approach one stage
further, by breaking the x86 instructions down into simpler operations
called micro-ops. These micro-ops are then executed through the
Pentium Pro's pipelines. The micro-ops are much simpler to handle than
x86 instructions, and allow the Pentium Pro processor more flexibility
in the way it executes them. The Pentium Pro can reorder the micro-ops
within its pipelines for greater efficiency and can frequently execute
multiple micro-ops in parallel.
The core step in a processor pipeline is the execution unit; this is where
the real work is done. The pipeline steps before the execution units are
mostly concerned with preparing the instruction for execution. The
steps after the execution units involve the re-assembly of data and
addresses. The Pentium Pro provides five execution units, giving it
increased flexibility for instruction execution.
To ensure that the pipelines are used to their greatest efficiency, the
Pentium Pro must keep its instruction units busy. For this reason, the
Pentium Pro implements two additional features for instruction
execution: out-of-order execution; and speculative execution.
2 Technical Reference
The Intel Pentium Pro Processor
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