The Single-Cycle CPU

This lecture covers the design and implementation of the MIPS CPU using a single-cycle approach. Albeit slow, this implementation is very simple and clean and allows us, once we understand it, to explore more sophisticated approaches.

• Combinational and Sequential Circuits
• Building the CPU's datapath to support R-type
• Adding support for addi
• Adding support for load/store
• Implementing branches and jumps
• Building the control
• Performance issues

• The software meets the hardware
• The role of the CPU clock

• The circuit building blocks
• The Single-Cycle CPU

• Read Sections 5.1-5.4 of the textbook (5.1-5.3 in the old edition).
• Do the single-cycle exercises accessible through the Resources page.