Micro-operations Cache Architecture for Intermediate Instruction Lookup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current computer systems face inefficiencies in processing instructions due to the need for frequent decoding and fetching of micro-operations, which can lead to increased power consumption and clock cycles, especially when handling intermediate instructions within instruction cache lines.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a micro-operations cache with an intermediate vector cache that stores indications of micro-operations locations, allowing for simultaneous lookups in both caches to efficiently retrieve and supply micro-operations to the execution unit, reducing the need for new cache lines and minimizing decoding overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a traditional micro-operations cache is used to store decoded micro-operations, then the cache can supply micro-operations to the execution unit, but intermediate instructions within cache lines require additional lookup steps and increase the time to supply micro-operations
Solution Approach 1:
The micro-operations cache is segmented into two distinct caches: a first cache that stores cache lines of micro-operations, and a second cache that stores indications (pointers) to locations of micro-operations within cache lines. This segmentation allows intermediate instructions to be quickly located in the second cache without requiring a full cache line lookup in the first cache, thereby reducing the time to supply micro-operations while maintaining an organized cache structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a dimensional layer to the cache structure by introducing a second cache that stores pointer information separate from the actual micro-operations. This creates a two-level cache hierarchy where the second cache provides quick indirect access, and the first cache provides direct access to micro-operations. This dimensional change enables faster lookup for intermediate instructions by adding an intermediate indexing layer without significantly increasing overall complexity.
2Use of energy by moving object
If intermediate instructions are handled by traditional cache lookup methods, then all instructions must be fetched and decoded, but this increases power consumption and clock cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The second cache pre-stores pointer information indicating the locations of micro-operations within cache lines before they are needed for execution. When an intermediate instruction is encountered, the pre-stored pointer in the second cache allows immediate identification of the micro-operations location without requiring full cache line fetching and decoding. This preliminary organization of location information reduces both power consumption and clock cycles by avoiding unnecessary memory access and decoding operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The second cache acts as an intermediary layer between the instruction stream and the first micro-operations cache. Instead of directly querying the first cache for every intermediate instruction, the system first consults the second cache for pointer information, which then guides the efficient retrieval from the first cache. This intermediary structure reduces power consumption by minimizing unnecessary memory accesses while maintaining high instruction processing throughput through intelligent indirect access.
3Speed
If the micro-operations cache stores only full cache lines, then all micro-operations are available, but the lookup time for intermediate instructions increases multiple clock cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts location information (pointers) from the full cache line data and stores it separately in the second cache. This extraction allows the system to quickly retrieve just the location information needed for intermediate instructions without having to process or transfer entire cache lines. The first cache retains the complete micro-operations data, while the second cache holds only the essential location metadata, enabling fast lookups while preserving all necessary information.
Solution Approach 2:
The location information in the second cache is prepared in advance during cache line population, before any lookup operations occur. This preliminary organization of pointer data enables immediate identification of micro-operations locations when intermediate instructions are encountered, dramatically improving lookup speed. The system avoids the need for multi-clock-cycle searches through the first cache by having location information readily available beforehand.
Data Source
AI summary
Various example embodiments for supporting processor capabilities are presented herein. Various example embodiments may be configured to support a micro-architecture for a micro-operations cache (UC) of a processor. Various example embodiments for supporting a micro-architecture for a UC of a processor may be configured to implement the UC of a processor using an intermediate vector UC (IV-UC). Various example embodiments for supporting an IV-UC for a processor may be configured to support a processor including an IV-UC where the IV-UC includes a micro-operations cache (UC) configured to store a cache line including sets of micro-operations (UOPs) from instructions decoded by the processor and an intermediate vector cache (IVC) configured to store indications of locations of the sets of UOPs in the cache line of the UC for intermediate instructions of the cache line of the UC.