Decoder start predictor
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorStephan Jourdan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method of fetching processor instructions provides enhanced performance. The method and system provide for receiving a request for an instruction, and searching a cache system at a first level for the instruction. The cache system is searched at a second level for the instruction in parallel with the first level based on a prediction of whether the instruction will be found at the first level.
Claims28
A method of fetching processor instructions, the method comprising:
- receiving a request for an instruction;
- searching a cache system at a first level for the instruction;
- and
- searching the cache system at a second level for the instruction in parallel with the first level based on a prediction of whether the instruction will be found at the first level.
A method of searching a cache system at a second level, the method comprising:
- determining a parameter value corresponding to a first level search history for an instruction;
- comparing the parameter value to a predetermined threshold;
- and
- initializing a search of the cache system at the second level when the parameter value exceeds the predetermined threshold.
A method of fetching processor instructions, the method comprising:
- determining a parameter value corresponding to a trace cache level search history for a front end re-start instruction;
- storing the parameter value to a computer readable storage medium;
- receiving a request for the instruction;
- retrieving the parameter value from the computer readable storage medium;
- comparing the parameter value to a predetermined threshold;
- initializing a search of the cache system at a second level when the parameter value exceeds the predetermined threshold;
- searching a cache system at a trace cache level for the instruction;
- and
- querying a decoder for the instruction in parallel with the trace cache level based on a prediction of whether the instruction will be found at the first level;
- said prediction being based on the parameter value and the predetermined threshold.
A computer readable storage medium storing a set of instructions capable of being executed by a processor to:
- receive a request for an instruction;
- search a cache system at a first level for the instruction;
- and
- search the cache system at a second level for the instruction in parallel with the first level based on a prediction of whether the instruction will be found at the first level.
A processor instruction management system comprising:
- an instruction supply engine having a cache system, the supply engine to generate a decoded instruction based on a request for the decoded instruction;
- and
- an execution core to execute the decoded instruction, the instruction supply engine searching the cache system at a first level for the instruction and searching the cache system at a second level in parallel with the first level based on a prediction of whether the instruction will be found at the first level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.