I wouldn't count on that to be enough. The Atom still speculatively issues and begins execution on instructions past branches and a quick glance at the pipelin

I wouldn't count on that to be enough. The Atom still speculatively issues and begins execution on instructions past branches and a quick glance at the pipeline[1] makes me think it can start on loads before the branch resolves, the same way an ARM A8 can despite both being in order. [1]https://www.anandtech.com/show/2493/11 https://www.anandtech.com/show/2493/11