Method and apparatus for thread switching within a multithreaded processor

Apparatus for performing a thread switching operation within a multithreaded processor, the apparatus including:

• detection logic to detect dispatch of a first predetermined quantity of instruction information for a first thread from an instruction information source within the multithreaded processor;
• and
• selection logic, coupled to the detection logic, to commence dispatch of instruction information for a second thread from the instruction information source responsive to the detection of the dispatch of the first predetermined quantity of the instruction information for the first thread from the instruction information source,
• wherein the detection logic is to detect whether a second predetermined quantity of the instruction information for the second thread is available for dispatch from the instruction information source, and the selection logic is to commence the dispatch of the instruction information for the second thread from the instruction information source only if the second predetermined quantity of the instruction information for the second thread is available for dispatch.

A multithreaded processor including:

• a processor pipeline including an instruction information source;
• a detector to detect dispatch of a first predetermined quantity of instruction information for a first thread from the instruction information source;
• and
• a selector, coupled to the detection logic, to commence dispatch of instruction information for a second thread from the instruction information source responsive to the detection of the dispatch of the first predetermined quantity of the instruction information for the first thread from the instruction information source,
• wherein the detector is to detect whether a second predetermined quantity of the instruction information for the second thread is available for dispatch from the instruction information source, and the selector is to commence the dispatch of the instruction information for the second thread from the instruction information source only if the second predetermined quantity of the instruction information for the second thread is available for dispatch.