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Chances are you will never design your own processor. This is a task for experts working at fewer than 100 companies worldwide. Why, then, should you learn about processor design?
. It is intellectually interesting and important.There is an intrinsic value in learning how things work. It is especially interesting to learn the inner workings of a system that is such a part of the daily lives of computer scientists and engineers and yet remains a mystery to many. Processor design embodies many of the principles of good engineering practice. It requires creating a simple and regular structure to perform a complex task.
. Understanding how the processor works aids in understanding how the overall computer system works. In Chapter 6, we will look at the memory system and the techniques used to create an image of a very large memory with a very fast access time. Seeing the processor side of the processor-memory interface will make this presentation more complete.
. Although few people design processors, many design hardware systems that contain processors. This has become commonplace as processors are embedded into real-world systems such as automobiles and appliances. Embedded system designers must understand how processors work, because these systems are generally designed and programmed at a lower level of abstraction than is the case for desktop systems.
. You just might work on a processor design.Although the number of companies producing microprocessors is small, the design teams working on those processors are already large and growing. There can be over 1000 people involved in the different aspects of a major processor design.