Lane-Based Strided Store Vector Register Reorganization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern processors face challenges in efficiently executing complex instructions such as floating-point operations and data rearrangement, which require more resources and time, impacting overall performance, especially in applications like multimedia and internet-based systems.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of lane-based strided store operations and extended vector instructions, such as those in the Intel AVX-512 instruction set, allows for efficient execution of vector operations by reorganizing data elements within vector registers and performing memory write operations in a way that optimizes resource utilization and execution time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional vector store operations are used, then memory write operations can be performed, but the throughput for complex operations is limited and resource utilization is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the vector store operation into lane-based parallel operations. Each lane processes a subset of data elements independently, allowing simultaneous execution of multiple store operations. The vector register is divided into multiple lanes, with each lane handling specific data elements based on the strided pattern, thereby increasing throughput and reducing execution time for complex vector operations.
2Speed
If data elements are processed sequentially, then resource requirements are lower, but the execution time increases and performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic lane-based processing where the number and configuration of lanes can be adjusted based on the specific operation requirements. The strided store operation dynamically assigns data elements to different lanes based on the stride value, allowing the processing structure to adapt to different data patterns and operation types, thereby achieving high execution speed without requiring fixed complex hardware for all possible operations.
3Productivity
If standard memory access patterns are used, then implementation is simpler, but memory access efficiency is reduced and throughput is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the memory access parameters by introducing strided access patterns within each lane. Instead of standard sequential or fixed-pattern access, the strided store operation uses variable stride values to determine the spacing between accessed memory locations. This parameter change enables efficient memory access for scattered data patterns while maintaining lane-based parallelism, thereby increasing memory access throughput without requiring fundamentally complex memory subsystem changes.
Data Source
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AI summary
A processor includes an execution unit to execute lane-based strided store instructions. The execution unit includes logic to extract a first data element from each of multiple lanes within a source vector register and to extract a second data element from each lane. The execution unit includes logic to place, in a destination vector, the first data element extracted from the second lane next to the first data element extracted from the first lane, and the second data element extracted from the second lane next to the second data element extracted from the first lane. The execution unit includes logic to store the destination vector in memory, beginning at a location specified in the instruction, such that data elements placed next to each other in the destination vector are stored in contiguous locations. The data elements placed next to each other may be respective components of a data structure.