Performance Analysis, Implementation, and Optimization of Pipelining Concepts in New RISC Architectures

Abstract

RISC processor architectures have become the dominant paradigm in modern microprocessor design due to the efficiency of instruction execution and the flexibility of their implementation. However, to achieve significant performance improvements, pipelining techniques are a crucial element that presents complex challenges in hazard management. This study analyzes a comprehensive strategy of five-stage pipelining integration in the RISC-V architecture with a focus on hazard handling mechanisms, register file optimization, memory hierarchy, and functional verification. Through the Waterfall model's Hardware Development Life Cycle (HDLC) methodology, we designed and implemented a system that combines data forwarding techniques, dynamic hazard detection, branch prediction, and cache memory to minimize pipeline stalls. The results of the evaluation showed an increase in Instructions Per Cycle (IPC) of up to 84%, a maximum operating frequency of 475.7 MHz on 40nm technology, and significant energy efficiency compared to standard non-pipelined designs. These findings validate that the integration of pipelining concepts with effective hazard mitigation mechanisms is capable of producing high-performance RISC architectures that are suitable for embedded and modern-era IoT applications.