In computer engineering, a load–store unit (LSU) is a specialized execution unit responsible for executing all load and store instructions, generating virtual addresses of load and store operations[1][2][3] and loading data from memory or storing it back to memory from registers.[4]

The load–store unit usually includes a queue which acts as a waiting area for memory instructions, and the unit itself operates independently of other processor units.[4]

Load–store units may also be used in vector processing, and in such cases the term "load–store vector" may be used.[5]

Some load–store units are also capable of executing simple fixed-point and/or integer operations.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "IBM POWER8 processor core microarchitecture (PDF Download Available)". ResearchGate.
  2. ^ "Structure of Computer Systems" (PDF). Users.utcluj.ro. p. 320. Retrieved 2017-06-23.
  3. ^ "ARM Information Center". infocenter.arm.com.
  4. ^ a b Memory Systems: Cache, DRAM, Disk by Bruce Jacob, Spencer Ng, David Wang 2007 ISBN 0123797519 page 298
  5. ^ Computer Architecture: A Quantitative Approach by John L. Hennessy, David A. Patterson 2011 ISBN 012383872X pages 293-295