Pipeline and Vector Processing Q.17

17Consider the following processors (ns stands for nanoseconds). Assume that the pipeline registers have zero latency.
P1: Four-stage pipeline with stage latencies 1 ns, 2 ns, 2 ns, 1 ns.
P2 : Four-stage pipeline with stage latencies 1.5 ns, 1.5 ns, 1.5 ns.
P3 : Five-stage pipeline with stage latencies 0.5 ns, 1 ns, 1 ns, 0.6 ns, 1 ns.
P4 : Five-stage pipeline with stage latencies 0.5 ns, 0.5 ns, 1 ns, 1 ns, 1.1 ns.
Which processor has the highest peak clock frequency?

Option : C
Explanation : Peak clock frequency = 1 / Maximum latency
Maximum of latencies is minimum in P3
i.e. P1 : f = 1/2 = 0.5 GHz
P2 : f = 1/1.5 = 0.67 GHz
P4 : f = 1/1.1 GHz
P3 : f = 1/1 GHz = 1
Thus P3 is be the right answer

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