Configurable Spatial Accelerator Sign Modification for Energy Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current processor architectures face challenges in achieving exascale performance and energy efficiency, as they struggle to improve both performance and energy consumption simultaneously, particularly in high-performance computing (HPC) applications, due to complex designs and high energy costs associated with out-of-order scheduling and simultaneous multi-threading.
Innovation Solution
A configurable spatial accelerator (CSA) is introduced, comprising a spatial array of processing elements connected by lightweight communication networks, which directly executes dataflow graphs and leverages network dataflow endpoint circuits to perform dataflow operations, eliminating the need for triggered instructions and reducing control overheads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional processor architectures use out-of-order scheduling and simultaneous multi-threading to improve performance, then processing capability is enhanced, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The processor is divided into multiple processing lanes (first lane, second lane, etc.), each capable of independent execution. This segmentation allows parallel processing while maintaining simpler control logic in each lane, reducing the overall energy consumption compared to complex out-of-order scheduling in a single processor.
Solution Approach 2:
The processor dynamically switches between different execution modes using a lane selection mechanism. The controller can selectively activate specific lanes based on workload requirements, enabling adaptive performance scaling while optimizing energy usage by activating only necessary processing resources.
2Productivity
If complex control mechanisms like out-of-order scheduling are implemented to increase productivity, then processing performance improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Complex processing tasks are divided into multiple instruction streams that can be executed in different lanes. Each lane has simplified control logic, avoiding the need for complex out-of-order scheduling while achieving parallel processing throughput through the segmented lane architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple processing lanes share common control and data paths, allowing the system to achieve high performance through parallelism rather than complex control mechanisms. The universal data flow bus and shared controller reduce overall device complexity while maintaining high productivity.
3Productivity
If more processing resources are allocated to achieve exascale performance, then computing power increases, but energy efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The processing lanes can execute instructions in a continuous stream without the need for complex stalls, flushes, or reordering operations. This continuous execution maintains high utilization of processing resources while improving energy efficiency by eliminating the energy waste associated with complex control operations.
Solution Approach 2:
Each processing lane is self-contained with its own instruction pointer and execution logic, allowing independent operation without requiring complex inter-lane coordination. This self-service architecture reduces control overhead and improves energy efficiency while scaling computing power through additional lanes.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and apparatuses relating to a sign modification field for fused operations in a configurable spatial accelerator are described. In one embodiment, a hardware accelerator includes a plurality of processing elements; a network between the plurality of processing elements to transfer values between the plurality of processing elements; and a processing element of the plurality of processing elements comprising: a first plurality of input queues having a multiple bit width coupled to the network, at least one first output queue having the multiple bit width coupled to the network, operation circuitry coupled to the first plurality of input queues having the multiple bit width, a sign modification circuit coupled to the first plurality of input queues having the multiple bit width, and a configuration register within the processing element to store a configuration value comprising a sign modification field that causes the sign modification circuit to modify a sign bit of a value from the first plurality of input queues according to the sign modification field to create a sign modified value, and the configuration value causes the operation circuitry to perform a selected operation of a plurality of operations on a value from the first plurality of input queues and the sign modified value to create a resultant value, and store the resultant value in the at least one first output queue.