Technical data

Vector Processing Concepts
1.5 PIPELINING
A vector function unit, or pipe, performs a specific function within a vector
processor and operates independently of other function units. Some vector
processors have three function units (see Figure 1–3): one for memory
instructions, one for operations (such as add, subtract, and multiply),
and one for miscellaneous instructions. Some vector processors have
additional function units, specifically to perform additional arithmetic
functions.
The performance of the arithmetic and memory function units of a vector
processor can be improved using instruction pipelining. Pipelining can
be thought of as "assembly line" processing. If a complicated operation
can be divided into smaller subprocesses that can then be executed
independently by different parts of the function unit, the total time
required to execute the operation repeatedly is substantially less than if
the operation is performed serially.
Figure 1–3 Vector Function Units
MEMORY
(LOAD/STORE)
MISCELLANEOUS
(DECODE/ISSUE/SYNC)
OPERATION
(ALU AND FPU)
OPERATION
(OTHER ALUs)
msb-0422-90
1–11