PERFORMANCE OF A SEQUENTIAL PROCESSOR

The performance of a simple, sequential machine is determined by the clock cycle time, and the average number of clock cycles per instruction.

• The clock cycle time is dependent on the implementation technology - e.g. logic family (CMOS, ECL), fabrication geometry (e.g. 0.5 m, 0.1 m), semiconductor material (e.g. silicon, gallium arsenide, indium phosphide?).
• It also depends on the complexity of the most complex operation which has to happen within a single cycle.