Kickslot Manager Circuitry for GPU Work Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
As the number of shader cores in GPUs increases, existing work distribution and scheduling techniques struggle to optimize performance and power consumption effectively, particularly in graphics processing units with multiple replicated processing elements.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of logical kickslots and advanced control circuitry that maps these slots to distributed hardware slots using various distribution modes, affinity-based scheduling, and dynamic slot management techniques to improve performance and reduce power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the number of shader cores in GPUs is increased, then compute power and processing capability are improved, but work distribution and scheduling complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the work distribution system into multiple independent data master circuits (vertex data master, pixel data master, compute data master), each responsible for specific types of work. This segmentation allows each data master to independently manage and distribute work to shader cores without creating bottlenecks, thereby scaling compute power while maintaining manageable complexity through functional decomposition
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate scheduling structures including kick slots, logical slots, and physical slot mappings as mediators between work sources and shader cores. These intermediary layers abstract the complexity of direct work distribution, enabling scalable shader core counts by providing structured intermediaries that manage work flow without requiring complex direct routing logic
2Productivity
If more replicated processing elements are added to GPUs, then processing throughput is improved, but scheduling efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary work distribution by pre-configuring kick slots with work batches before shader core execution. Data masters prepare and queue work in advance using logical slot mappings, allowing shader cores to immediately begin processing without runtime scheduling delays. This preliminary preparation of work distributions maintains high throughput while minimizing scheduling time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic slot mapping mechanisms where logical slot to physical slot mappings can be dynamically adjusted based on workload characteristics and shader core availability. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize scheduling efficiency for different work types and shader core configurations, maintaining high productivity without proportional increases in scheduling time
3Productivity
If advanced work distribution techniques are implemented, then performance is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service mechanisms where data masters autonomously manage their own work distribution queues and slot mappings without requiring centralized coordination for each scheduling decision. This self-managing capability allows performance-optimized work distribution while reducing the power consumption associated with complex centralized control logic and inter-component communication
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed embodiments relate to controlling sets of graphics work (e.g., kicks) assigned to graphics processor circuitry. In some embodiments, tracking slot circuitry implements entries for multiple tracking slots. Slot manager circuitry may store, using an entry of the tracking slot circuitry, software-specified information for a set of graphics work, where the information includes: type of work, dependencies on other sets of graphics work, and location of data for the set of graphics work. The slot manager circuitry may prefetch, from the location and prior to allocating shader core resources for the set of graphics work, configuration register data for the set of graphics work. Control circuitry may program configuration registers for the set of graphics work using the prefetched data and initiate processing of the set of graphics work by the graphics processor circuitry according to the dependencies. Disclosed techniques may reduce kick-to-kick transition time, in some embodiments.