Detailed Project Report · RTL · Computer Architecture · 2025–2026

RISC-V Five-Stage Pipeline CPU

Qinyan Zeng
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
University of Southern California · qyzeng.work@gmail.com

Abstract

This RTL project focuses on control and dependency management in an in-order five-stage processor. Hazard detection and forwarding logic coordinate instruction flow so that data can bypass the register-file path where possible and the pipeline can be held where a dependency remains unresolved.

Keywords—Verilog, SystemVerilog, RISC-V, Testbench.

I. Project summary

MicroarchitectureFive-stage in-order pipeline
Dependency handlingHazard detection and forwarding
Coverage focusRAW and memory dependencies

II. Scope and contribution

  • Constructed the five-stage pipeline and control path.
  • Implemented hazard-detection and forwarding units.
  • Built testbench scenarios for pipeline dependencies.

III. Methodology

  1. In-order pipelining
  2. Operand forwarding
  3. Pipeline stall control
  4. Directed dependency testing

IV. Verification

  • Pipeline functional testbench.
  • Directed RAW-dependency cases.
  • Memory-related dependency cases.
  • Forwarding and stall behavior checks.

V. Reported results

  • Completed the synthesizable five-stage CPU.
  • Verified the stated hazard-detection and forwarding behavior.

VI. Artifacts and data availability

The résumé establishes the following artifact classes. Public-safe figures and report excerpts will be attached after review:

  • Pipeline block diagram
  • Control logic
  • Dependency tests
  • Simulation waveforms