Abstract:
Methods and apparatuses relating to mitigations for speculative execution side channels are described. Speculative execution hardware and environments that utilize the mitigations are also described. For example, three indirect branch control mechanisms and their associated hardware are discussed herein: (i) indirect branch restricted speculation (IBRS) to restrict speculation of indirect branches, (ii) single thread indirect branch predictors (STIBP) to prevent indirect branch predictions from being controlled by a sibling thread, and (iii) indirect branch predictor barrier (IBPB) to prevent indirect branch predictions after the barrier from being controlled by software executed before the barrier.
Abstract:
In one embodiment, a multicore processor includes cores that can independently execute instructions, each at an independent voltage and frequency. The processor may include a power controller having logic to provide for configurability of power management features of the processor. One such feature enables at least one core to operate at an independent performance state based on a state of a single power domain indicator present in a control register. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for per core performance states in a processor. Per Core Performance States (PCPS) refer to the parallel operating of individual cores at different voltage and/frequency points. In one embodiment of the invention, the processor has a plurality of processing cores and a power control module that is coupled with each of the plurality of processing cores. The power control module facilitates each processing core to operate at a different performance state from the other processing cores. By allowing its cores to have per core performance state configuration, the processor is able to reduce its power consumption and increase its performance.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatuses relating to mitigations for speculative execution side channels are described. Speculative execution hardware and environments that utilize the mitigations are also described. For example, three indirect branch control mechanisms and their associated hardware are discussed herein: (i) indirect branch restricted speculation (IBRS) to restrict speculation of indirect branches, (ii) single thread indirect branch predictors (STIBP) to prevent indirect branch predictions from being controlled by a sibling thread, and (iii) indirect branch predictor barrier (IBPB) to prevent indirect branch predictions after the barrier from being controlled by software executed before the barrier.
Abstract:
Methods and apparatuses relating to mitigations for speculative execution side channels are described. Speculative execution hardware and environments that utilize the mitigations are also described. For example, three indirect branch control mechanisms and their associated hardware are discussed herein: (i) indirect branch restricted speculation (IBRS) to restrict speculation of indirect branches, (ii) single thread indirect branch predictors (STIBP) to prevent indirect branch predictions from being controlled by a sibling thread, and (iii) indirect branch predictor barrier (IBPB) to prevent indirect branch predictions after the barrier from being controlled by software executed before the barrier.
Abstract:
In one embodiment, a multicore processor includes cores that can independently execute instructions, each at an independent voltage and frequency. The processor may include a power controller having logic to provide for configurability of power management features of the processor. One such feature enables at least one core to operate at an independent performance state based on a state of a single power domain indicator present in a control register. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
Abstract:
A processor is described that includes a processing core and a plurality of counters for the processing core. The plurality of counters are to count a first value and a second value for each of multiple threads supported by the processing core. The first value reflects a number of cycles at which a non sleep state has been requested for the first value's corresponding thread, and, a second value that reflects a number of cycles at which a non sleep state and a highest performance state has been requested for the second value's corresponding thread. The first value's corresponding thread and the second value's corresponding thread being a same thread.
Abstract:
Techniques and apparatuses for issuance of license upgrades for hardware components in the field, as well as the hardware components, are described. In one embodiment, for example an apparatus may include processor circuitry and memory in communication with the processor circuitry, wherein the memory contains a configuration data block and license data block, the configuration data block being read from the memory via a licensing apparatus and the licensing data block being written to the memory by the licensing apparatus. The processor may include executable code to process the licensing data block to facilitate an upgrade of the capabilities of the processor circuitry.
Abstract:
Hardware processors and methods to perform self-monitoring diagnostics to predict and detect failure are described. In one embodiment, a hardware processor includes a plurality of cores, and a diagnostic hardware unit to isolate a core of the plurality of cores at run-time, perform a stress test on an isolated core, determine a stress factor from a result of the stress test, and store the stress factor in a data storage device.
Abstract:
In one embodiment, a multicore processor includes cores that can independently execute instructions, each at an independent voltage and frequency. The processor may include a power controller having logic to provide for configurability of power management features of the processor. One such feature enables at least one core to operate at an independent performance state based on a state of a single power domain indicator present in a control register. Other embodiments are described and claimed.