CPU design at the gate level

From: Alan Pearson <alan.pearson_at_cramer.com>
Date: Fri Sep 21 03:18:33 2001

Tony Duell wrote:

> I've not come across it, but if it stops with registers and
> the ALU, I don't think I'd call it a 'good book'.
>
> A CPU can be divided into 2 parts. The Data Path (registers, ALU, the
> multiplexers between them, etc) and the Control (instruction decoder,
> microcode + sequencer, condition logic, etc)

True, I don't recall covering much in the way of control logic - only
very basic stuff like telling the ALU whether to add or subtract, plus
implementing a few flags like zero and carry. Once we got to that stage
they threw us at the 29xx series to look at microcoding, which was all
the rage at the time.

Unfortunately I've lost most of my college notes now, I guess I've moved
too many times :-/ I've been looking for a replacement for the Thewlis
book - can you recommend any which cover CPU logic from the basics of
how to build registers out of gates up to instruction fetching & decoding?
I'm also very keen to get hold of a book covering the bitslice processors
(29xx), any ideas? I can't imagine there's anything left in print now, but
with an author/title or ISBN I might be able to track down a second-hand
copy.

-al
Received on Fri Sep 21 2001 - 03:18:33 BST