Computing Fundamentals Tutor CPU Design 04: Fetch-Execute

This video discusses the fetch-execute cycle for CPUs, and how this will be implemented in a simulated 4-Bit CPU.

It is part of a series that walks through the design of a 4-bit CPU, with the intention of it being implemented in a digital simulator. While the series is very specific to this CPU, and should not be taken as a general discussion on wider CPU design, it serves as a good introduction to the concepts used in CPU design, especially as this particular design is particularly basic. This video discusses the fetch-execute cycle which is an important part of the working of any CPU, and the particular implementation of that to be implemented in this specific CPU design, extending it to a fetch-execute-increment cycle of 6 phases.

This series in turn is part of a larger series that charts the creation of a simulated 4-Bit CPU, with clear explanations of what is happening at every step of the way. Following this Super-Series is a great way to gain a strong understanding of the hardware that underpins computers, and is a great learning experience for anyone interested in computing as a career or hobby.

Roadmap:

Understanding the basics of digital electronics is fundamental to the understanding of computer hardware, and this software allows you to explore that without the need for hardware, soldering irons and the such like.