How a Register File Works – Superscalar 8-Bit CPU #16

A processor needs registers to keep frequently used data nearby. In this video, we take a closer look at the reason registers are such a popular choice in computer architectures, how we can arrange them into a register file, and we start building a breadboard implementation of a basic register file for our CPU.

This video series explores the concepts and techniques that make modern computer processors so incredibly fast and powerful. I build my very own 8-bit processor from individual logic gates and gradually evolve it to become a superscalar out-of-order machine. Along the way, we take a deep dive into contemporary computer architecture in a hands-on fashion and rediscover some of the foundations of modern computing.

Previous Video:    • Program Counter PCB – Superscalar 8-Bit CP...  
Series Playlist:    • Build a Superscalar CPU  

Register File: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Registe...
Three-State Logic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-s...
Address Decoder: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Address...

Chips:
74HC377: https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/sn7...
74HC541: https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/sn7...
74HC139: https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/sn7...

CPUs:
6502: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOS_Tec...
Z80: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zilog_Z80
8086: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_8086
RV32: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RISC-V

Related Videos:
Ben Eater's fantastic 6502 series:    • “Hello, world” from scratch on a 6502 — Pa...  
6502 Reverse Engineering:    • 27c3: Reverse Engineering the MOS 6502 CPU...  
The Ultimate Game Boy Talk (Z80 related):    • The Ultimate Game Boy Talk (33c3)  

00:00 - Intro
00:27 - Memory Operands
02:07 - Register Operands
03:53 - Registers in Other Processors
05:33 - Register File Concept
07:33 - Register File Implementation
09:33 - Single Register Storage
12:52 - Single Register Read-Out
17:26 - Multiple Registers
20:49 - Testing
23:04 - Address Decoding
27:08 - Testing
29:18 - Outro

#homebrew #8bit #breadboard #superscalar #computer