Maximum-rate pipeline systems

Abstract

There is widespread opinion that we are fast approaching the physical limit in speeds for computers. The grounds for such conclusions are traceable to signal propagation delays in interconnections, delays encountered in traversing several levels of combinatorial logic, and to systems organizations. Clearly, these areas must be addressed if we are to realize phenomenal improvements in computer logic speeds over the next decade. Subnanosecond logic circuits will be available; however, design innovations are needed to exploit this performance at the systems level.