TLDR: CPU design refers to the hardware engineering and hardware architectural principles used to create a central processing unit (CPU), the core component responsible for executing instructions and managing data in a computing system. It encompasses various factors, including instruction set architecture (ISA), CPU pipeline structure, clock speed, and CPU power efficiency. Modern CPU design integrates advanced features like multi-core architectures, hyper-threading, and AI accelerators to enhance performance and scalability for diverse workloads.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microprocessor
A key aspect of CPU design is the choice of instruction set architecture, which defines how instructions are encoded, processed, and executed. Intel's x86 and ARM architectures dominate the market, each optimized for different use cases. The design also involves creating efficient pipelines to process multiple instructions simultaneously, minimizing latency and maximizing throughput. Out-of-order execution and branch prediction are commonly employed to optimize instruction flow.
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/architecture-and-technology.html
Modern CPU design integrates specialized units like floating-point units (FPUs), SIMD processors for vector operations, and GPU cores for parallel workloads. Techniques such as dynamic voltage scaling and thermal management ensure energy efficiency and stability under high-performance conditions. With advancements like hybrid architectures seen in Intel Alder Lake, CPU design continues to evolve, balancing raw computational power with efficiency and adaptability for applications ranging from data centers to mobile devices.