A method of integrated circuit programmed data processor design includes selecting a benchmark application, selecting an initial set of architecture parameters, reconfiguring a compiler for the selected architecture parameters, compiling the benchmark, reconfiguring a data processor simulator to the selected architecture parameters, running the complied benchmark on the reconfigured simulator, automatically synthesizing an integrated circuit physical layout and evaluating performance of the selected architecture parameters against predetermined criteria. The method varies the selected architecture parameters upon failure to meet criteria until evaluation of the selected architecture parameters meets the criteria. The method selects a number of datapath clusters to avoid too many input/output ports in data registers.