Design An 8-Bit Microprocessor Using VHDL

Abstract

By increasing the demand of enhancing the ability of processors to handle the more complex and challenging processors has resulted in the integration of a number of processor cores into one chip. Still the load of on the processor is not less in generic system. An Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) is the heart of all microprocessors. It is a combinational logic unit that performs its logical or arithmetic operations. ALU is getting smaller and more complex nowadays to enable the development of a more powerful but smaller computer. One or more microprocessors typically serve as a central processing unit (CPU) in a computer system or handheld device. The main objective of this paper is to design an 8-bit microprocessor (CPU) using VHDL and XILINX Spartan 3E tool. VHDL is stand for Very High Speed Integrated Circuit Hardware Description Language. It is one of the most popular design applications uses by most designers now a days. The enhanced feature of Spartan 3E is very low cost, high performance logic solution for high-volume automotive applications. The important components of this processor include Arithmetic Logic Unit, Multiplexer, Decoder, RAM, Instruction Register, Control Unit, Accumulator and Program Counter. The module functionality and performance issues like area, power dissipation and propagation delay are analyzed at 90 nm process technology using XILINX Spartan 3E tool. Keywords: CPU; 8-bit; Integrated Circuit.