Memory Channel Interleaving for Selective Power Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing memory channel interleaving techniques require all channels to be activated, leading to wasted power and inefficiency in low performance use cases, as they do not offer selective power or performance optimization.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that configure a memory address map with an interleaved region for high performance use cases and a linear region for low power use cases, allowing memory requests to be assigned to either region based on a preference for power savings or performance, using a System on Chip (SoC) with a memory channel interleaver to manage memory access across multiple channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If symmetric channel interleaving is used to distribute memory traffic uniformly across all channels, then memory performance is optimized, but power consumption increases when all channels must be activated
Solution Approach 1:
The memory address space is segmented into two distinct regions: an interleaved region for high-performance memory access and a linear region for power-saving operations. This segmentation allows the system to selectively activate only the necessary memory channels based on the accessed address region, resolving the contradiction between maintaining high performance and reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The memory channel activation state is made dynamic rather than static. The system can transition between different operational modes (interleaved vs. linear) based on real-time performance requirements. This dynamic adaptation enables the system to optimize the balance between performance and power consumption according to actual workload conditions.
2Speed
If all memory channels are activated to achieve high performance, then memory access speed increases, but power consumption increases unnecessarily for low performance use cases
Solution Approach 1:
Different quality levels of memory access are provided for different address regions. The interleaved region provides high-speed access when needed, while the linear region provides power-efficient access for less critical operations. This local differentiation of access quality allows the system to match performance characteristics to actual needs, eliminating wasted power in low-performance scenarios.
3Stability of the object's composition
If symmetric channel interleaving is implemented, then memory traffic is uniformly distributed, but device complexity increases due to the need to manage multiple active channels
Solution Approach 1:
The complex symmetric interleaving mechanism is extracted and applied only to the interleaved region of the address space. The linear region uses a simpler, non-interleaved access pattern. This extraction of the complex mechanism to where it is most needed reduces overall system complexity while maintaining uniform traffic distribution benefits in the interleaved region.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing memory channel interleaving with selective power or performance optimization. One such method involves configuring a memory address map for two or more memory devices accessed via two or more respective memory channels with an interleaved region and a linear region. The interleaved region comprises an interleaved address space for relatively higher performance use cases. The linear region comprises a linear address space for relatively lower power use cases. Memory requests are received from one or more clients. The memory requests comprise a preference for power savings or performance. Received memory requests are assigned to the linear region or the interleaved region according to the preference for power savings or performance.