Abstract: A data fabric routes requests between the plurality of requestors. A probe filter tracks the state of cached lines of memory at a probe filter coupled to the data fabric. Responsive to the data fabric leaving a non-operational power state while all requestors that are probe filter clients are in a non-operational power state, the power management controller delays a probe filter initialization state in which data regarding cached lines is initialized following the non-operational power state.

Abstract: A disclosed technique includes determining a plurality of per-pixel variable rate shading rates for a plurality of fragments; determining a coarse variable shading rate for a coarse variable rate shading area based on the plurality of per-pixel variable rate shading rates; and shading one or more fragments based on the plurality of fragments and based on the coarse variable shading rate.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) includes a first circuit including a timer for receiving an adjustable clock signal. Responsive to leaving the non-operational power state to enter a power state in which the adjustable clock has a lower frequency than the reference clock, the first circuit adjusts the frequency of the adjustable clock to a frequency higher than the lower frequency, and then receives an elapsed time associated with the non-operational power state and starts the timer using an adjusted timer value.

Abstract: Providing atomicity for complex operations using near-memory computing is disclosed. In an implementation, a complex atomic operation is decomposed into a set of sequential operations that is stored in a near-memory instruction store. A memory controller receives a request from a host execution engine to issue the complex atomic operation and initiates execution of the stored set of sequential operations on a near-memory compute unit. The complex atomic operation may be a user-defined complex atomic operation.

Abstract: A processing system includes a content addressable memory (CAM) in an input/output path to selectively modify register writes on a per-pipeline basis. The CAM compares an address of a register write to an address field of each entry of the CAM. If a match is found, the CAM modifies the register write data as defined by a function for the matching entry of the CAM. In some embodiments, each entry of the CAM includes a data mask defining subfields of the register write data, wherein each subfield includes subfield data including one or more bits.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for efficiently sharing registers among threads are disclosed. A system includes at least a processor, control logic, and a register file with a plurality of registers. The processor assigns a base set of registers to each thread of a plurality of threads executing on the processor. When a given thread needs more than the base set of registers to execute a given phase of program code, the given thread executes an acquire instruction to acquire exclusive access to an extended set of registers from a shared resource pool. When the given thread no longer needs additional registers, the given thread executes a release instruction to release the extended set of registers back into the shared register pool for other threads to use. In one implementation, the compiler inserts acquire and release instructions into the program code based on a register liveness analysis performed during compilation.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for utilizing different modulation coding schemes (MCSs) for different components of a video stream are disclosed. A system includes a transmitter sending a video stream over a wireless link to a receiver. The transmitter splits the video stream into low, medium, and high quality components, and then the transmitter modulates the different components using different MCS's. For example, the transmitter modulates the low quality component using a lower, robust MCS level to increase the likelihood that this component is received. Also, the medium quality component is modulated using a medium MCS level and the high frequency component is modulated using a higher MCS level. If only the low quality component is received by the receiver, then the receiver reconstructs and displays a low quality video frame from this component, which avoids a glitch in the display of the video stream.

Abstract: A memory controller includes a command queue having an input for receiving memory access commands for a memory channel, and a number of entries for holding a predetermined number of memory access commands, and an arbiter that selects memory commands from the command queue for dispatch to one of a persistent memory and a DRAM memory coupled to the memory channel. The arbiter includes a first-tier sub-arbiter circuit coupled to the command queue for selecting candidate commands from among DRAM commands and persistent memory commands, and a second-tier sub-arbiter circuit coupled to the first-tier sub-arbiter circuit for receiving the candidate commands and selecting at least one command from among the candidate commands.

Abstract: A graphics pipeline reduces the number of tessellation factors written to and read from a graphics memory. A hull shader stage of the graphics pipeline detects whether at least a threshold percentage of the tessellation factors for a thread group of patches are the same and, in some embodiments, whether at least the threshold percentage of the tessellation factors for a thread group of patches have a same value that either indicates that the plurality of patches are to be culled or that the plurality of patches are to be passed to a tessellator stage of the graphics pipeline.

Abstract: A memory controller includes a command queue, a memory interface queue, at least one storage queue, and a replay control circuit. The command queue has a first input for receiving memory access commands. The memory interface queue receives commands selected from the command queue and couples to a heterogeneous memory channel which is coupled to at least one non-volatile storage class memory (SCM) module. The at least one storage queue stores memory access commands that are placed in the memory interface queue. The replay control circuit detects that an error has occurred requiring a recovery sequence, and in response to the error, initiates the recovery sequence. In the recovery sequence, the replay control circuit transmits selected memory access commands from the at least one storage queue by grouping non-volatile read commands together separately from all pending volatile reads, volatile writes, and non-volatile writes.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for performing efficient memory accesses for a computing system are disclosed. In various embodiments, a computing system includes one or more computing resources and a memory controller coupled to a memory device. The memory controller determines a memory access request targets a given bank of multiple banks. An access history is updated for the given bank based on whether the memory access request hits on an open page within the given bank and a page hit rate for the given bank is determined. The memory controller sets an idle cycle limit based on the page hit rate. The idle cycle limit is a maximum amount of time the given bank will be held open before closing the given bank while the bank is idle. The idle cycle limit is based at least in part on a page hit rate for the bank.

Abstract: A processing system limits the propagation of unnecessary memory updates by bypassing writing back dirty cache lines to other levels of a memory hierarchy in response to receiving an indication from software executing at a processor of the processing system that the value of the dirty cache line is dead (i.e., will not be read again or will not be read until after it has been overwritten). In response to receiving an indication from software that data is dead, a cache controller prevents propagation of the dead data to other levels of memory in response to eviction of the dead data or flushing of the cache at which the dead data is stored.

Abstract: A graphics pipeline includes a tessellator stage having a sub-patch distributor and a plurality of tessellators. The sub-patch distributor divides an input patch into a plurality of sub-primitive groups, with the primitive group limit governing the maximum permissible size for a given group of sub-primitives to be assigned to a tessellator. The sub-patch distributor recursively identifies a plurality of regions of the input patch, with the size and number of primitives of each region based on the specified primitive group limit. The sub-patch distributor assigns different regions to different sub-patch groups and distributes the sub-patch groups among the plurality of tessellators.

Abstract: A static random access memory (SRAM) includes fast SRAM bit cells and fast multiplexer circuits that are formed in a first row of fast cells in a hybrid standard cell architecture. Slow SRAM bit cells and slow multiplexer circuits are formed in a second row of slow cells. The slow multiplexer circuits provide a column output for the fast SRAM bit cells and the fast multiplexer circuits provide a column output for the slow SRAM bit cells. Thus, one SRAM column has fast bit cells and slow multiplexer stages while the adjacent SRAM column has slow bit cells and fast multiplexer stages to thereby provide an improved performance balance when reading the SRAM.

Abstract: Methods are provided for creating objects in a way that permits an API client to explicitly participate in memory management for an object created using the API. Methods for managing data object memory include requesting memory requirements for an object using an API and expressly allocating a memory location for the object based on the memory requirements. Methods are also provided for cloning objects such that a state of the object remains unchanged from the original object to the cloned object or can be explicitly specified.

Abstract: A technique for performing a ray intersection test, the method comprising: receiving a request for an early termination ray intersection test for a ray; testing the ray against one or more early termination box nodes and one or more normal box nodes of a bounding volume hierarchy; and based on the test of the ray against the one or more early termination box nodes, determining whether to end traversal of the bounding volume hierarchy and determine whether the ray intersects geometry for the purpose of the ray intersection test.

Abstract: A processor receives a request to access one or more levels of a partially resident texture (PRT) resource. The levels represent a texture at different levels of detail (LOD) and the request includes normalized coordinates indicating a location in the texture. The processor accesses a texture descriptor that includes dimensions of a first level of the levels and one or more offsets between a reference level and one or more second levels that are associated with one or more residency maps that indicate texels that are resident in the PRT resource. The processor translates the normalized coordinates to texel coordinates in the one or more residency maps based on the offset and accesses, in response to the request, the one or more residency maps based on the texel coordinates to determine whether texture data indicated by the normalized coordinates is resident in the PRT resource.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a processor having a micro-operation queue, multiple scheduler entries, and scheduler compression logic. When a pair of micro-operations in the micro-operation queue is compressible in accordance with one or more compressibility rules, the scheduler compression logic acquires the pair of micro-operations from the micro-operation queue and stores information from both micro-operations of the pair of micro-operations into different portions in a single scheduler entry. In this way, the scheduler compression logic compresses the pair of micro-operations into the single scheduler entry.

Abstract: An electronic device is described that handles control transfer instructions (CTIs) when executing instructions in program code. The electronic device has a processor that includes a branch prediction functional block and a sequential fetch logic functional block. The sequential fetch logic functional block determines, based on a record associated with a CTI, that a specified number of fetch groups of instructions that were previously determined to include no CTIs are to be fetched for execution in sequence following the CTI. When each of the specified number of fetch groups is fetched and prepared for execution, the sequential fetch logic prevents corresponding accesses of the branch prediction functional block for acquiring branch prediction information for instructions in that fetch group.

Abstract: A sense amplifier is biased to reduce leakage current equalize matched transistor bias during an idle state. A first read select transistor couples a true bit line and a sense amplifier true (SAT) signal line and a second read select transistor couples a complement bit line and a sense amplifier complement (SAC) signal line. The SAT and SAC signal lines are precharged during a precharge state. An equalization circuit shorts the SAT and SAC signal lines during the precharge state. A differential sense amplifier circuit for latching the memory cell value is coupled to the SAT signal line and the SAC signal line. The precharge circuit and the differential sense amplifier circuit are turned off during a sleep state to cause the SAT and SAC signal lines to float. A sleep circuit shorts the SAT and SAC signal lines during the sleep state.