Processor with garbage-collection based classification of memory

Abstract

Improved memory management in a processor is provided using garbage collection utilities. The processor includes higher performance memory units and lower performance memory units and a memory management unit. The memory management unit includes a garbage collection utility programmed to identify high use memory blocks and low use memory blocks within the higher and lower performance memory units. The memory management unit is also configured to move the high use memory blocks to higher performance memory and move the low use memory blocks to lower performance memory. The method comprises determining performance characteristics of available memory to identify higher performance memory and lower performance memory. Next memory block use metrics are analyzed to identify high use memory blocks and low use memory blocks. Finally, high use memory blocks are moved to the higher performance memory while the low use memory blocks are moved to the lower performance memory.

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