This Special Problems assignment explores pipelining in greater detail.

Activities

[1] Download and run PIPEDEMO.EXE, which provides a graphical illustration of pipelined operating inside the Intel 80486 processor:

• PIPEDEMO.EXE

It will look similar to this when running:

[2] If you click Next, PIPEDEMO will compare 80486 code execution with the Pentium’s execution:

[3] If you click Next again, PIPEDEMO will compare Pentium execution code samples:

[4] Fully investigate all features of PIPEDEMO. Keep the following questions in mind as you work with the utility:

1. Does it provide a useful illustration?
2. Does it help you understand pipelines and their related issues?
3. Did the course material prepare you to appreciate what PIPEDEMO is doing?
4. What are all the results of each full execution of code in the various scenarios? What do the results mean to you?

[5] Write and submit a two-page summary of your thoughts about pipelining and the PIPEDEMO utility.