Integer ALU Pipelines: Review Checklist

Review checklist

Review Checklist for Integer ALU Pipelines centers on integer pipeline utilization, bypass hazard frequency, and single-cycle ALU throughput. Tie every claim to a measurable artifact and an owner-controlled action.

• Workload scope and KPI targets are explicit.

• Environment metadata is locked and reproducible.

• Stage-loss classification is backed by evidence.

• Owner and rollback conditions are documented.

• Validation matrix covers perf, correctness, and power.

• Owners signed: integer datapath owner, physical design owner, compiler scheduling owner.

CPU deep dive

Execution throughput depends on port balance, bypass quality, and realistic instruction mix assumptions.

Concept diagram

EXECUTION DATAPATH

issue -> ALU/FPU/vector/LSQ ports -> writeback -> retire

Metric graph

EXECUTION LOSS DRIVERS

port conflicts      █████
bypass hazards      ████
LSQ ordering stalls ███

Reports and artifacts

• port pressure heatmap

• pipeline hazard report

• ALU/FPU/vector utilization split

• LSQ ordering diagnostics

Mini case study

A compiler scheduling update over-concentrated uops on one port class, reducing effective multi-issue throughput.

Debug branches

• Map instruction classes to port availability

• Validate forwarding depth against dependency chains

• Inspect LSQ ordering events before widening pipes

Senior review question

Ask: which CPI/latency evidence proves this topic is truly closed beyond synthetic benchmarks?

Key takeaways

• Always connect microarchitectural counter changes to product workload outcomes.

• Lock binary, compiler, firmware, and thermal metadata before comparing CPU traces.

Common pitfalls

• Treating average IPC as sufficient proof while ignoring latency tails and outliers.

• Applying predictor or prefetch tweaks without first-failing-stage attribution.

• Declaring closure without reproducible perf, correctness, and power gates.

Review checklist explanation

A checklist here prevents false confidence. Every item should defend against a known closure failure mode.

For Integer ALU Pipelines, minimum checklist: workload scope, integer pipeline utilization, bypass hazard frequency, and single-cycle ALU throughput, artifact evidence (ALU stage timing chart, forwarding conflict report, and integer mix profile), bottleneck class, owner, rollback path, and full-matrix validation.

If architecture or RTL changed, include correctness, power, timing, and observability checks. If software policy changed, include compatibility and deployment safety evidence.