摘要:
The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for synchronizing weakly ordered write combining operations. A memory controller has a buffer to service memory accesses. A store fence instruction is dispatched to the memory controller. If the buffer contains at least a data written by at least one of the weakly ordered write combining operations prior to the store fence instruction, then the store fence instruction is blocked until a block in the buffer containing the data is globally observed. If the buffer does not contain any data written by at least one of the write combining operations prior to the store fence instruction, then the store fence instruction is accepted by the memory controller.
摘要:
A system and method for cache sharing. The system is a microprocessor comprising a processor core and a graphics engine, each coupled to a cache memory. The microprocessor also includes a driver to direct how the cache memory is shared by the processor core and the graphics engine. The method comprises receiving a memory request from a graphics application program and determining whether a cache memory that may be shared between a processor core and a cache memory is available to be shared. If the cache memory is available to be shared, a first portion of the cache memory is allocated to the processor core and a second portion of the cache memory is allocated to the graphics engine. The method and microprocessor may be included in a computing device.
摘要:
A computer system is disclosed. The computer system includes a higher level cache, a lower level cache, a decoder to decode instructions, and a circuit coupled to the decoder. In one embodiment, the circuit, in response to a single decoded instruction, retrieves data from external memory and bypasses the lower level cache upon a higher level cache miss. In another embodiment, the circuit, in response to a first decoded instruction, issues a request to retrieve data at an address from external memory to place said data only in the lower level cache, detects a second cacheable decoded instruction to said address, and places said data in the higher level cache.
摘要:
An apparatus and method of optimizing write combining operations using write combining buffers. A plurality of control fields are assigned to each of the write combining buffers. Each of the control fields has a value corresponding to one of a plurality of write combining states. A first of the plurality of write combining states transitions to a second of the plurality of write combining states in response to a write combining operation.
摘要:
A processor is disclosed. The processor includes a decoder to decode instructions and a circuit, in response to a decoded instruction, detects an incoming write back or write through streaming store instruction that misses a cache and allocates a buffer in write combining mode. The circuit, in response to a second decoded instruction, detects either an uncacheable speculative write combining store instruction or a second write back streaming store or write through streaming store instruction that hits the buffer and merges the second decoded instruction with the buffer.
摘要:
A method and apparatus for executing partial-width packed data instructions are discussed. The processor may include a plurality of registers, a register renaming unit, a decoder, and a partial-width execution unit. The register renaming unit provides an architectural register file to store packed data operands each of which include a plurality of data elements. The decoder is to decode a first and second set of instructions that each specify one or more registers in the architectural register file. The first set of instructions specify operations to be performed on all of the data elements stored in the one or more specified registers. In contrast, the second set of instructions specify operations to be performed on only a subset of the data elements. The partial-width execution unit is to execute operations specified by either of the first or the second set of instructions.
摘要:
A method and apparatus for parallel processing of graphics data are described. A number of color components are stored in a floating point format in at least one register of a set of 128-bit registers in a packed format. The color components in the floating point format are converted to numbers in an integer format. The numbers in the integer format are placed in at least one register of a set of 64-bit registers in the packed format. Color components are assembled for image pixels from the numbers in the integer format.
摘要:
A method and apparatus are provided for executing packed data instructions. According to one aspect of the invention, a processor includes registers, a register renaming unit coupled to the registers, a decoder coupled to the register renaming unit, and a partial-width execution unit coupled to the decoder. The register renaming unit provides an architectural register file to store packed data operands that include data elements. The decoder is to decode a first and second set of instructions that each specify one or more registers in the architectural register file. Each of the instructions in the first set specify operations to be performed on all of the data elements. In contrast, each of the instructions in the second set specify operations to be performed on only a subset of the data elements. The partial-width execution unit is to execute operations specified by either the first or second set of instructions.
摘要:
A computer system and method for providing cache memory management. The computer system comprises a main memory having a plurality of main memory addresses each having a corresponding data entry, and a processor coupled to the main memory. At least one cache memory is coupled to the processor. The at least one cache memory has a cache directory with a plurality of addresses and a cache controller having a plurality of data entries corresponding to the plurality of addresses. The processor receives an instruction having an operand address and determines if the operand address matches one of the plurality of addresses in the cache directory. If so, the processor updates a data entry in the cache controller corresponding to the matched address. Otherwise, a data entry corresponding to the operand address in the main memory is updated.
摘要:
A method and instruction for converting a number between a floating point format and an integer format are described. Numbers are stored in the integer format in a register of a first set of architectural registers in a packed format. At least one of the numbers in the integer format is converted to at least one number in the floating point format. The numbers in the floating point format are placed in a register of a second set of architectural registers in a packed format.