4.5 - Branch Delay Slots
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Practice Questions
Test your understanding with targeted questions
What is a branch delay slot?
💡 Hint: Think about what happens immediately after a branch instruction.
Why can’t all instructions be executed in delay slots?
💡 Hint: Consider the relationship of instructions in programming flow.
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Interactive Quizzes
Quick quizzes to reinforce your learning
What is the primary benefit of using branch delay slots?
💡 Hint: Think about the role of delay slots in handling control hazards.
True or False: Delay slots can always be filled with any instruction.
💡 Hint: Understand the dependency rules regarding branch outcomes.
1 more question available
Challenge Problems
Push your limits with advanced challenges
Consider a pipeline where a branch instruction and three following instructions are in contention for execution. Determine the optimal use of a delay slot and explain the rationale.
💡 Hint: Evaluate dependencies among instructions before scheduling.
Given a simple assembly code snippet with conditional branches, refactor it to effectively utilize delay slots. Discuss potential pitfalls.
💡 Hint: Check if the inserted instructions depend on the branch results.
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