The architecture tag has no wiki summary.
43
votes
10answers
7k views
Why are there no 256-bit or 512-bit microprocessors?
In an 8-bit microprocessor its data bus consists of 8 data lines. In a 16-bit microprocessor its data bus consists of 16 data lines and so on.
Why is there no a 256-bit microprocessor or a 512-bit ...
1
vote
1answer
250 views
How to select a DSP chip for ECG/EMG signals
I want to select a DSP chip which I can use for some ECG/EMG signal processing. I am looking for an evaluation kit. The input signals are already in digital format (taken from phsionet.org). I am also ...
0
votes
2answers
68 views
Accessing an SRAM Array?
As im learning about Computer Architecture im trying to understand it from the ground up (Transistors in CMOS in particular)
I came across the simple 6T schematic for SRAM (2 inverters)
Mostly ...
0
votes
2answers
136 views
Digital Architecture Design Question: Fast way to perform a floating point exponential operation
does anyone knows how is the fast way to perform a floating point exponential operation? (like this y = 2.71^(3.45))
Thank you to all posible links to references or articles.
EDIT:
I am pondering ...
8
votes
3answers
146 views
VHDL: Architecture naming and interpretation
Note: I am using Xilinx's ISE and have an FPGA board to work with (with switches and lights and so on), and I've hacked together some simple projects so far. At the same time I'm reading several ...
11
votes
3answers
421 views
How does the Harvard architecture help?
I was reading about arduino and the AVR architecture and got stuck at the point that how does pipeline stall or bubbling is solved by Harvard architecture introduction in the AVR.I mean what Harvard ...
8
votes
7answers
556 views
Why is a datapath in microcontrollers always a power of 2 wide?
Microcontrollers data paths are always a power of 2 wide: 4 bit, 8, 16, 32 bit, etc. Even PICs which use 12-bit wide instructions are 8-bit controllers. Why? Is there any design advantage to this? ...
1
vote
2answers
113 views
Sorting of data from instructions ( ARM I-cache and D-cache )
Some ARM cores like the ARM9 family of cores have a Harvard Architecture, at least at the cache level. That is they access two seperate caches, an I-cache for instructions and a D-cache for data ( ...
12
votes
4answers
8k views
What are different types of computer architectures?
I am going through the book "Elements of computing systems". This book teaches how to build a whole computer from scratch. While I was just browsing the chapters on computer architecture, I noticed ...
3
votes
1answer
226 views
What is CLK in UART/USART used for?
I'm studying computer architecture at my university and I've been recently asked a question: what is CLK used for in UART/USART? The first obvious thing is that it is used for dividing frequency when ...
24
votes
1answer
757 views
What's the purpose of this checkerboard pattern?
This gigabit Ethernet NIC has a checkerboard pattern out of copper etched on the PCB:
Each square is electrically isolated. What's the point of adding these? I guess that the PCB isn't filled with ...
7
votes
1answer
506 views
Advantages of 32-bit 48-96 Mhz microprocessors (such as in Arduino Due)
It seems Arduino Due ( 32-bit, 84 Mhz, ARM-Cortex-M3-based SAM3X8E ) was released today.
In addition, clearly there is a myriad of processors in this category ( 32-bit / 48-96 Mhz / ARM ) as well as ...
13
votes
5answers
3k views
Why does more transistors = more processing power?
According to Wikipedia, processing power is strongly linked with Moore's law:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moore's_law
The number of transistors that can be
placed inexpensively on an ...
20
votes
3answers
2k views
How do I design my very own ARM based processors?
I have several questions about how I would design my own ARM-based CPU?
How does one start with an ARM license and end up with a package ready to be soldered on to a board?
What do I get from ARM ...
7
votes
4answers
791 views
What are the properties of an N-bit microcontroller?
I've heard of 8 bit microcontrollers and 16-bit microcontrollers. I've even heard about 7 bit microcontrollers and 1 bit microcontrollers.
What are the general attributes of these groups? How do I ...
0
votes
2answers
137 views
System on chip questions
I was reading about System on Chip on wikipedia and I was wondering
Is the iPhone an example of this?
Is the system saved on a processor?
How is the system actually put on the device?
Thanks!
13
votes
6answers
588 views
Identify processor type from raw binary code?
Not really related to chips, but hopefully I'll get some directions to follow from here.
I got a chunk of code, but I don't know what processor it intended for.
Are there tools available that can ...
-1
votes
5answers
140 views
Constructing a logic circuit with a control line
I have a question about logic gates.
I am wondering how to construct a logic circuit that makes its outputs c and d equal to its inputs a and b when a control is set to 0. If the control is set to 1, ...
1
vote
2answers
204 views
Efficient spike detecting Microprocessor or DSP architecture
I am looking for microcontroller or DSP (or its architectures) which are efficient in terms of power as well as performance in detecting spikes. I want to run an algorithm which detects spikes and ...
2
votes
2answers
264 views
Looking for a open-source ALU
I am looking for a open ALU to compute several equations like these:
y1 = e^((constant1 - x)^2/(2*x))
y2 = constant2/y1
y3 = y2*constant3 + x*constant4
Where x ...
1
vote
3answers
563 views
Resources to learn about the AVR/RISC architecture
I think I have used enough of the AVR series by atmel to say that I understand how to use it. I know somethings about how it actually works, but I would like to know more. Are there any good resources ...
