Hardware GPU Page Fault Manager Reducing CPU Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current graphics processing systems with virtual memory models significantly increase the load on the host CPU due to high page fault rates as they rely on CPU-based software modules for managing page faults between system memory and frame buffer memory, leading to substantial computational overhead.
Innovation Solution
A hardware-based GPU page fault manager with a DMA engine that processes page faults locally, allowing direct memory access between system and frame buffer memory without CPU involvement, thereby reducing the load on the host CPU.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a CPU-based software module is used to manage page faults between system memory and frame buffer memory, then virtual memory management is achieved, but the host CPU experiences substantial computational load exceeding 10%
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the page fault management function from the host CPU and implements it as a dedicated hardware page fault manager within the GPU. This separates the page management responsibility from the host CPU, allowing the GPU to handle its own page faults independently through hardware-based virtual address translation and page fault detection, thereby eliminating the substantial CPU computational load while maintaining virtual memory management capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dedicated page fault manager as an intermediary component between the GPU and host CPU. This intermediary handles page fault detection, virtual address translation, and coordination with system memory independently, preventing page fault processing from becoming a bottleneck for the host CPU while ensuring proper memory management
2Quantity of substance
If the GPU utilizes and expands into system memory beyond frame buffer memory, then greater memory capacity is available, but the page fault rate increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the GPU to service its own page faults through a dedicated hardware page fault manager that autonomously handles virtual address translation and page fault detection. This self-service capability allows the GPU to efficiently manage its expanded memory usage in system memory without generating excessive page faults that would burden the host CPU, as the page management is handled locally and independently
3Reliability
If each page fault triggers an interrupt to the host CPU, then page faults are processed, but system performance decreases due to repeated CPU interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the page fault processing function from the host CPU interrupt handling and implements it as a dedicated hardware component within the GPU. This allows page faults to be detected and processed locally by the GPU's page fault manager without triggering repeated interrupts to the host CPU, thereby maintaining reliable page fault processing while eliminating the performance degradation caused by frequent CPU interruptions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hardware page fault manager as an intermediary that handles page fault processing independently of the host CPU. This intermediary component manages virtual address translation and page fault coordination, preventing page faults from becoming a bottleneck for system performance while ensuring proper memory management through dedicated hardware support
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for processing address page requests in a GPU system that is implementing a virtual memory model. A hardware-based page fault manager included in the GPU system intercepts page faults otherwise processed by a software-based page fault manager executing on a host CPU. The hardware-based page fault manager in the GPU includes a DMA engine capable of reading and writing pages between system memory and frame buffer memory without involving the CPU or operating system. A net improvement in system performance is achieved by processing a significant portion of page faults within the GPU, reducing the overall load on the host CPU.