A design for a 16 bit processor using only 600 transistors

Abstract

The trend in modern hardware design (especially in that of processors) has been away from unsophisticated designs, and towards the implementation of highly functional systems. However, there are still some applications for which unrefined systems have a place. In these, ease of using the device is sacrificed for small physical size. Often there is a need to be able to insert an ‘extra’ processor into a small space (for instance on a memory chip); the need for high yields from a wafer of semiconductor is another possible reason for requiring such a small processor, this time as a stand-alone device. This report describes the design of a simple sixteen bit processor which uses only 600 transistors in its implementation. Understandably, the power of the processor, the ‘NVDAC’, is very limited. However, this report sets out to demonstrate that many of the savings have been made by optimising the use of the hardware which is provided, and that the resultant design has more power than its small size would suggest.