Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100146212 | Accessing a cache memory with reduced power consumption - In one embodiment, a cache memory includes a data array having N ways and M sets and at least one fill buffer coupled to the data array, where the data array is segmented into multiple array portions such that only one of the portions is to be accessed to seek data for a memory request if the memory request is predicted to hit in the data array. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 06-10-2010 |
20110208918 | MOVE ELIMINATION AND NEXT PAGE PREFETCHER - Methods and apparatus relating to a hardware move elimination and/or next page prefetching are described. In some embodiments, a logic may provide hardware move eliminations based on stored data. In an embodiment, a next page prefetcher is disclosed. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. | 08-25-2011 |
20110320723 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO REDUCE THE POWER CONSUMPTION OF A MEMORY DEVICE - A method and system to reduce the power consumption of a memory device. In one embodiment of the invention, the memory device is a N-way set-associative level one (L1) cache memory and there is logic coupled with the data cache memory to facilitate access to only part of the N-ways of the N-way set-associative L1 cache memory in response to a load instruction or a store instruction. By reducing the number of ways to access the N-way set-associative L1 cache memory for each load or store request, the power requirements of the N-way set-associative L1 cache memory is reduced in one embodiment of the invention. In one embodiment of the invention, when a prediction is made that the accesses to cache memory only requires the data arrays of the N-way set-associative L1 cache memory, the access to the fill buffers are deactivated or disabled. | 12-29-2011 |
20130326145 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR EFFICIENT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN CACHES IN HIERARCHICAL CACHING DESIGN - In accordance with embodiments disclosed herein, there are provided methods, systems, mechanisms, techniques, and apparatuses for implementing efficient communication between caches in hierarchical caching design. For example, in one embodiment, such means may include an integrated circuit having a data bus; a lower level cache communicably interfaced with the data bus; a higher level cache communicably interfaced with the data bus; one or more data buffers and one or more dataless buffers. The data buffers in such an embodiment being communicably interfaced with the data bus, and each of the one or more data buffers having a buffer memory to buffer a full cache line, one or more control bits to indicate state of the respective data buffer, and an address associated with the full cache line. The dataless buffers in such an embodiment being incapable of storing a full cache line and having one or more control bits to indicate state of the respective dataless buffer and an address for an inter-cache transfer line associated with the respective dataless buffer. In such an embodiment, inter-cache transfer logic is to request the inter-cache transfer line from the higher level cache via the data bus and is to further write the inter-cache transfer line into the lower level cache from the data bus. | 12-05-2013 |
20130326160 | GATHER USING INDEX ARRAY AND FINITE STATE MACHINE - Methods and apparatus are disclosed for using an index array and finite state machine for scatter/gather operations. Embodiment of apparatus may comprise: decode logic to decode a scatter/gather instruction and generate a set of micro-operations, and an index array to hold a set of indices and a corresponding set of mask elements. A finite state machine facilitates the gather operation. Address generation logic generates an address from an index of the set of indices for at least each of the corresponding mask elements having a first value. An address is accessed to load a corresponding data element if the mask element had the first value. The data element is written at an in-register position in a destination vector register according to a respective in-register position the index. Values of corresponding mask elements are changed from the first value to a second value responsive to completion of their respective loads. | 12-05-2013 |
20140122811 | Method And Apparatus For Error Correction In A Cache - A processor includes a core to execute instructions and a cache memory coupled to the core and having a plurality of entries. Each entry of the cache memory may include a data storage including a plurality of data storage portions, each data storage portion to store a corresponding data portion. Each entry may also include a metadata storage to store a plurality of portion modification indicators, each portion modification indicator corresponding to one of the data storage portions. Each portion modification indicator is to indicate whether the data portion stored in the corresponding data storage portion has been modified, independently of cache coherency state information of the entry. Other embodiments are described as claimed. | 05-01-2014 |
20140189250 | Store Forwarding for Data Caches - A bit or other vector may be used to identify whether an address range entered into an intermediate buffer corresponds to most recently updated data associated with the address range. A bit or other vector may also be used to identify whether an address range entered into an intermediate buffer overlaps with an address range of data that is to be loaded. A processing device may then determine whether to obtain data that is to be loaded entirely from a cache, entirely from an intermediate buffer which temporarily buffers data destined for a cache until the cache is ready to accept the data, or from both the cache and the intermediate buffer depending on the particular vector settings. Systems, devices, methods, and computer readable media are provided. | 07-03-2014 |
20140189254 | Snoop Filter Having Centralized Translation Circuitry and Shadow Tag Array - A processor is described that includes a plurality of processing cores. The processor includes an interconnection network coupled to each of said processing cores. The processor includes snoop filter logic circuitry coupled to the interconnection network and associated with coherence plane logic circuitry of the processor. The snoop filter logic circuitry contains circuitry to hold information that identifies not only which of the processing cores are caching specific cache lines that are cached by the processing cores, but also, where in respective caches of the processing cores the cache lines are cached. | 07-03-2014 |
20140223105 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CUTTING SENIOR STORE LATENCY USING STORE PREFETCHING - In accordance with embodiments disclosed herein, there are provided methods, systems, mechanisms, techniques, and apparatuses for cutting senior store latency using store prefetching. For example, in one embodiment, such means may include an integrated circuit or an out of order processor means that processes out of order instructions and enforces in-order requirements for a cache. Such an integrated circuit or out of order processor means further includes means for receiving a store instruction; means for performing address generation and translation for the store instruction to calculate a physical address of the memory to be accessed by the store instruction; and means for executing a pre-fetch for a cache line based on the store instruction and the calculated physical address before the store instruction retires. | 08-07-2014 |
20140380338 | Method And Apparatus To Protect A Processor Against Excessive Power Usage - In an embodiment, a processor includes at least a first core. The first core includes execution logic to execute operations, and a first event counter to determine a first event count associated with events of a first type that have occurred since a start of a first defined interval. The first core also includes a second event counter to determine a second event count associated with events of a second type that have occurred since the start of the first defined interval, and stall logic to stall execution of operations including at least first operations associated with events of the first type, until the first defined interval is expired responsive to the first event count exceeding a first combination threshold concurrently with the second event count exceeding a second combination threshold. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 12-25-2014 |
20150074373 | SCATTER USING INDEX ARRAY AND FINITE STATE MACHINE - Methods and apparatus are disclosed using an index array and finite state machine for scatter/gather operations. Embodiment of apparatus may comprise: decode logic to decode scatter/gather instructions and generate micro-operations. An index array holds a set of indices and a corresponding set of mask elements. A finite state machine facilitates the scatter operation. Address generation logic generates an address from an index of the set of indices for at least each of the corresponding mask elements having a first value. Storage is allocated in a buffer for each of the set of addresses being generated. Data elements corresponding to the set of addresses being generated are copied to the buffer. Addresses from the set are accessed to store data elements if a corresponding mask element has said first value and the mask element is changed to a second value responsive to completion of their respective stores. | 03-12-2015 |
20150089280 | RECOVERY FROM MULTIPLE DATA ERRORS - Mechanisms for handling multiple data errors that occur simultaneously are provided. A processing device may determine whether multiple data errors occur in memory locations that are within a range of memory locations. If the multiple memory locations are within the range of memory locations, the processing device may continue with a recovery process. If one of the multiple memory locations is outside of the range of memory locations, the processing device may halt the recovery process. | 03-26-2015 |