摘要:
A cache memory logically associates a cache line with at least two cache sectors of a cache array wherein different sectors have different output latencies and, for a load hit, selectively enables the cache sectors based on their latency to output the cache line over successive clock cycles. Larger wires having a higher transmission speed are preferably used to output the cache line corresponding to the requested memory block. In the illustrative embodiment the cache is arranged with rows and columns of the cache sectors, and a given cache line is spread across sectors in different columns, with at least one portion of the given cache line being located in a first column having a first latency, and another portion of the given cache line being located in a second column having a second latency greater than the first latency. One set of wires oriented along a horizontal direction may be used to output the cache line, while another set of wires oriented along a vertical direction may be used for maintenance of the cache sectors. A given cache line is further preferably spread across sectors in different rows or cache ways. For example, a cache line can be 128 bytes and spread across four sectors in four different columns, each sector containing 32 bytes of the cache line, and the cache line is output over four successive clock cycles with one sector being transmitted during each of the four cycles.
摘要:
A cache memory logically associates a cache line with at least two cache sectors of a cache array wherein different sectors have different output latencies and, for a load hit, selectively enables the cache sectors based on their latency to output the cache line over successive clock cycles. Larger wires having a higher transmission speed are preferably used to output the cache line corresponding to the requested memory block. In the illustrative embodiment the cache is arranged with rows and columns of the cache sectors, and a given cache line is spread across sectors in different columns, with at least one portion of the given cache line being located in a first column having a first latency, and another portion of the given cache line being located in a second column having a second latency greater than the first latency. One set of wires oriented along a horizontal direction may be used to output the cache line, while another set of wires oriented along a vertical direction may be used for maintenance of the cache sectors. A given cache line is further preferably spread across sectors in different rows or cache ways. For example, a cache line can be 128 bytes and spread across four sectors in four different columns, each sector containing 32 bytes of the cache line, and the cache line is output over four successive clock cycles with one sector being transmitted during each of the four cycles.
摘要:
Scrubbing logic in a local coherency domain issues a domain query request to at least one cache hierarchy in a remote coherency domain. The domain query request is a non-destructive probe of a coherency state associated with a target memory block by the at least one cache hierarchy. A coherency response to the domain query request is received. In response to the coherency response indicating that the target memory block is not cached in the remote coherency domain, a domain indication in the local coherency domain is updated to indicate that the target memory block is cached, if at all, only within the local coherency domain.
摘要:
In response to execution of program code, a control register within scrubbing logic in a local coherency domain is initialized with at least a target address of a target memory block. In response to the initialization, the scrubbing logic issues to at least one cache hierarchy in a remote coherency domain a domain indication scrubbing request targeting a target memory block that may be cached by the at least one cache hierarchy. In response to receipt of a coherency response indicating that the target memory block is not cached in the remote coherency domain, a domain indication in the local coherency domain is updated to indicate that the target memory block is cached, if at all, only within the local coherency domain.
摘要:
A data processing system includes a plurality of processing units each having a respective point-to-point communication link with each of multiple others of the plurality of processing units but fewer than all of the plurality of processing units. Each of the plurality of processing units includes interconnect logic, coupled to each point-to-point communication link of that processing unit, that broadcasts operations received from one of the multiple others of the plurality of processing units to one or more of the plurality of processing units.
摘要:
A cache coherent data processing system includes at least first and second coherency domains. In a first cache memory within the first coherency domain of the data processing system, a memory block is held in a storage location associated with an address tag and a coherency state field. A determination is made if a home system memory assigned an address associated with the memory block is within the first coherency domain. If not, the coherency state field is set to a coherency state that indicates that the address tag is valid, that the storage location does not contain valid data, the first coherency domain does not contain the home system memory, and that, following formation of the coherency state, the memory block is cached outside of the first coherency domain.
摘要:
Scrubbing logic in a local coherency domain issues to at least one cache hierarchy in a remote coherency domain a domain reset request that forces invalidation of any cached copy of a target memory block then held in said remote coherency domain. A coherency response to said domain reset request is received. In response to said coherency response indicating that said target memory block is not cached in said remote coherency domain, a domain indication of said local coherency domain is updated to indicate that said target memory block is cached, if at all, only within said local coherency domain.
摘要:
A cache coherent data processing system includes at least first and second coherency domains. The first coherency domain includes a system memory controller for a system memory and a first processing unit having a first cache memory. The second coherency domain includes a second processing unit having a second cache memory. In the first cache memory, a coherency state field associated with a storage location and an address tag is set to a first coherency state. In response to snooping an exclusive access request specifying a target address matching the address tag, the first cache memory provides a first partial response to the exclusive access request based at least in part upon the first coherency state. In response to snooping the exclusive access request, the memory controller determines whether it is responsible for the target address and provides a second partial response to the exclusive access request based at least in part upon an outcome of the determination. At least the first and second partial responses are accumulated to obtain a combined response for the exclusive access request. The combined response includes an indication of whether or not a highest point of coherency and a memory controller of a home system memory for the target address reside within a same coherency domain. The first cache memory updates the coherency state field from the first coherency state to a second coherency state in response to the indication in the combined response.
摘要:
A data processing system includes a plurality of local hubs each coupled to a remote hub by a respective one a plurality of point-to-point communication links. Each of the plurality of local hubs queues requests for access to memory blocks for transmission on a respective one of the point-to-point communication links to a shared resource in the remote hub. Each of the plurality of local hubs transmits requests to the remote hub utilizing only a fractional portion of a bandwidth of its respective point-to-point communication link. The fractional portion that is utilized is determined by an allocation policy based at least in part upon a number of the plurality of local hubs and a number of processing units represented by each of the plurality of local hubs. The allocation policy prevents overruns of the shared resource.
摘要:
A method, system, and device for enabling intervention across same-level cache memories. In a preferred embodiment, responsive to a cache miss in a first cache memory a direct intervention request is sent from the first cache memory to a second cache memory requesting a direct intervention that satisfies the cache miss. In an alternate embodiment, direct intervention is utilized to access a same-level victim cache.