A 32-bit VLSI CPU chip

A fully integrated 32-bit VLSI CPU chip utilizing 1 /spl mu/m features is described. It is fabricated in an n-channel silicon gate, self-aligned technology. The chip contains about 450000 transistors and executes microinstructions at approximately one per 55 ns clock cycle. It can execute a 32-bit binary integer add in 55 ns, a 32-bit binary integer multiply in 1.8 /spl mu/s, and a 64-bit floating point multiply in 10.4 /spl mu/s. The instruction set provides the functions of an advanced mainframe CPU. Because the implementation of such a complex device poses an organizational as well as a technical challenge, the design philosophy that was adopted is summarized briefly. Careful attention was paid to designer productivity, and design flexibility and testability.