RISC-V is a popular open-source instruction set gaining traction in microcontrollers and academics. Nvidia uses RISC-V based microcontrollers in their GPUs. SiFive plays a key role in pushing RISC-V towards high-performance targets. SiFive’s P550 core aims for 30% higher performance in less space than Arm’s Cortex A75. The P550’s out-of-order execution engine, branch predictor, and memory subsystem are detailed, showcasing its strengths and weaknesses compared to the A75. SiFive allows for customization in core and cache configurations, with a scalable design suited for varying applications. The P550 faces challenges in handling unaligned accesses, but offers a competitive performance profile with a focus on low power consumption.
https://chipsandcheese.com/p/inside-sifives-p550-microarchitecture