CPUs and architecture

Which technique examines instruction dependencies and executes ready instructions in an order different from the program order to improve performance?

  1. AIn-order execution
  2. BOut-of-order execution
  3. CSingle-cycle execution
Show answer and explanation

Answer: B. Out-of-order execution

In out-of-order execution, instructions waiting for earlier results are postponed and later instructions that are ready run first. This makes better use of execution units and raises performance, but it requires mechanisms such as committing results in program order, making the circuitry more complex.

Practice this topic Back to topic

More CPUs and architecture questions

  1. Which CPU mechanism temporarily suspends the current task to give priority to handling requests such as those from external devices?
  2. Which mechanism transfers data directly between peripherals and memory without going through the CPU?
  3. Which LSI integrates a CPU, memory and peripherals such as timers and ADCs on one chip and is used to control appliances and equipment?
  4. In a multicore CPU, which mechanism keeps data consistent when the caches of several cores hold data for the same address?
  5. Which technique reduces CPU power consumption by dynamically changing operating frequency and supply voltage according to the load?