Abstract: One embodiment of a method is disclosed. The method generates requests waiting for data to be loaded into a data cache including a first level cache (FLC). The method further receives the requests from instruction sources, schedules the requests, and then passes the requests on to an execution unit having the data cache. Further, the method checks contents of the data cache, replays to the requests if the data is not located in the data cache, and stores the requests that are replay safe. The method further detects the readiness of the data of bus clocks prior to the data being ready to be transmitted to a processor, and transmits an early data ready indication to the processor to drain the requests from a resource scheduler.

Abstract: One embodiment of a method is disclosed. The method generates requests waiting for data to be loaded into a data cache including a first level cache (FLC). The method further receives the requests from instruction sources, schedules the requests, and then passes the requests on to an execution unit having the data cache. Further, the method checks contents of the data cache, replays to the requests if the data is not located in the data cache, and stores the requests that are replay safe. The method further detects the readiness of the data of bus clocks prior to the data being ready to be transmitted to a processor, and transmits an early data ready indication to the processor to drain the requests from a resource scheduler.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system are provided for early data return indication mechanism. According to one embodiment, data cache is accessed for data in response to a request for the data, the request received from an instruction source, and the request waits for the data to be retrieved from memory if the data is not located in the data cache, and an early data ready indication is received at a resource scheduler, the early data ready indication being received prior to receiving a data ready indication referring to the data being ready to be retrieved from the memory.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dynamically adjusting the power/performance characteristics of a memory subsystem. Since the memory subsystem access requirements are heavily dependent on the application being executed, static methods of enabling or disabling the individual memory system components (as are used in prior art) are less than optimal from a power consumption perspective. By dynamically tracking the behavior of the memory subsystem, the invention predicts the probability that the next event will have certain characteristics, such as whether it will result in a memory cycle that requires the attention of a cache memory, whether that memory cycle will result in a cache memory hit, and whether a DRAM page hit in main memory will occur if the requested data is not in one of the levels of cache memory. Based on these probabilities, the invention dynamically enables or disables components of the subsystem.

Abstract: A method of dynamically adjusting the power consumption of a circuit block within an integrated circuit includes the step of incrementing a count total maintained by a counter on the occurrence of a first type of trigger event. The occurrence of a predetermined event is detected when the count total maintained by the counter equals, or transcends, a predetermined threshold value. The predetermined event provides a speculative indication of a future state of activity of the circuit block by reason of a predicted proximity of the predetermined event to the future state of activity of the circuit block. The power consumption of the circuit block is adjusted in response to the occurrence of the predetermined event.