Branch target buffer run-ahead

A method comprising:

• storing, by a hierarchy of branch target buffers entries corresponding to branch instructions, the hierarchy of branch target buffers including respective branch target buffers that have progressively slower access times;
• generating, by a first program counter, a first program counter value associated with a next instruction of an executing application;
• generating, by a second program counter, a second program counter value that is associated with a subsequent instruction of the executing application that is after the next instruction;
• moving, by branch prediction circuitry, an entry of a branch target buffer of the branch target buffers to another branch target buffer of the branch target buffers based on the second program counter value;
• and
• setting, by the branch prediction circuitry, the second program counter to the first program counter value when a compute pipeline that operates based on the first program counter value is stalled.

A device comprising:

• a hierarchy of branch target buffers storing entries corresponding to branch instructions, the hierarchy of branch target buffers including respective branch target buffers that have progressively slower access times;
• a first program counter configured to generate a first program counter value associated with a next instruction of an executing application;
• a second program counter configured to predict a second program counter value that is associated with a subsequent instruction of the executing application and is after the next instruction;
• and
• first branch prediction circuitry configured to:
• populate a branch target buffer of the respective branch target buffers with a faster access time with an entry corresponding to the second program counter value and from a branch target buffer of the branch target buffers with a slower access time;
• and
• set the second program counter to the first program counter value when a compute pipeline that operates based on the first program counter value is stalled.