Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus, system, and method for implementing predicated instructions using micro-operations. A micro-code engine receives an instruction, decomposes the instruction, and generates a plurality of micro-operations to implement the instruction. Each of the decomposed micro-operations indicates a single destination register. For predicated instructions, the decomposed micro-operations include “conditional move” micro-operations to select between two potential output values. Except in the case that one of the potential output values is a constant, the decomposed micro-operations for a predicated instruction also include an append instruction that saves the incoming value of a destination register in a temporary variable. For at least one embodiment, the qualifying predicate for a predicated instruction is appended to the incoming value stored in the temporary register.

Abstract: A central processing unit includes a register file having a plurality of read ports, a first execution unit having a first plurality of input ports, and logic operable to selectively couple different arrangements of the read ports to the input ports. A method for reading operands from a register file having a plurality of read ports by a first execution unit having a first plurality of input ports includes scheduling an instruction for execution by the first execution unit and selectively coupling a particular arrangement of the read ports to the input ports based on a type of the instruction.

Abstract: A method of operating a processor includes reclaiming a physical register renamed as a microcode architectural register used by a microcode routine. The physical register is reclaimed according to an indicator corresponding to the microcode architectural register and indicating that a pointer to the physical register and corresponding to the microcode architectural register is an active pointer.

Abstract: A central processing unit includes a register file having a plurality of read ports, a first execution unit having a first plurality of input ports, and logic operable to selectively couple different arrangements of the read ports to the input ports. A method for reading operands from a register file having a plurality of read ports by a first execution unit having a first plurality of input ports includes scheduling an instruction for execution by the first execution unit and selectively coupling a particular arrangement of the read ports to the input ports based on a type of the instruction.

Abstract: A method of operating a processor includes reclaiming a physical register renamed as a microcode architectural register used by a microcode routine. The physical register is reclaimed according to an indicator corresponding to the microcode architectural register and indicating that a pointer to the physical register and corresponding to the microcode architectural register is an active pointer.

Abstract: For one disclosed embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a first die including a first plurality of memory cells for a memory array and a second die including a second plurality of memory cells for the memory array. The second die may include a shared line for the memory array to conduct digital signals for memory cells of both the first and second plurality of memory cells. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: For one disclosed embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a first die including a first plurality of memory cells for a memory array and a second die including a second plurality of memory cells for the memory array. The second die may include a shared line for the memory array to conduct digital signals for memory cells of both the first and second plurality of memory cells. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: For one disclosed embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a first die including a first plurality of memory cells for a memory array and a second die including a second plurality of memory cells for the memory array. The second die may include a shared line for the memory array to conduct digital signals for memory cells of both the first and second plurality of memory cells. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: Implementation of a Bloom filter using multiple single-ported memory slices. A control value is combined with a hashed address value such that the resultant address value has the property that one, and only one, of the k memories or slices is selected for a given input value, a, for each bank. Collisions are thereby avoided and the multiple hash accesses for a given input value, a, may be performed concurrently. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: For one disclosed embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a first die including a first plurality of memory cells for a memory array and a second die including a second plurality of memory cells for the memory array. The second die may include a shared line for the memory array to conduct digital signals for memory cells of both the first and second plurality of memory cells. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for renaming a logical register for which bit accesses of varying lengths are permitted, such as a predicate register. Rename logic supports renaming for both partial-bit accesses and bulk-bit accesses to bits of the register. Rename logic utilizes a rename map table associated with the logical register to be renamed and also includes a plurality of physical rename registers. They physical rename registers include a set of skinny physical rename registers to be used for renaming for partial-bit writes. The physical rename registers also include a set of fat physical rename registers to be used for renaming for bulk-bit writes. Additional sizes of physical rename registers may also be employed. The entries of the single physical rename map table may point to either fat or skinny physical rename registers.

Abstract: A technique to use available register cache resources if register file resources are unavailable. Embodiments of the invention pertain to a register cache writeback algorithm for storing writeback data to a register cache if register file write ports or space is unavailable.

Abstract: Implementation of a Bloom filter using multiple single-ported memory slices. A control value is combined with a hashed address value such that the resultant address value has the property that one, and only one, of the k memories or slices is selected for a given input value, a, for each bank. Collisions are thereby avoided and the multiple hash accesses for a given input value, a, may be performed concurrently. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A register renaming technique for dynamic multithreading. One disclosed embodiment includes a register map to store up to M×N values to map M registers for N threads. A set of N values, one per thread, and a set of state bits is associated with each of the M registers. Each set of state bits indicates which of the N values per register are valid and whether ones of the N sets of values have been written by a dynamic execution thread. In response to termination of a dynamic execution thread, recovery logic may update state bits associated with ones of the M registers that were written to during dynamic execution.

Abstract: A mechanism, which supports predictive register cache allocation and entry, uses a counter look-up table to determine the potential significances of physical register references.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for providing ready information to a scheduler. Dependence information is maintained in a relatively small map table, with potential loss of information when dependence information exceeds available space in the map table. Ready instructions are maintained, as space allows, in a select queue. Tags for scheduled instructions are maintained in a lookup queue, and dependency information for the scheduled instruction is maintained in an update queue, as space allows. Ready information for instructions in a scheduling window is updated based upon the information in the update queue. Loss of instruction information may occur, due to space limitations, at the map table, lookup queue, update queue, and/or select queue. Scheduling of lost instructions is handled by a lossy instruction handler.

Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus, method, and system provide for no-operation instruction (“NOP”) folding such that information regarding the presence of a NOP instruction in the instruction stream is folded into a buffer entry for another instruction. Information regarding a target NOP instruction is thus maintained in a buffer entry associated with an instruction other than the target NOP instruction. For at least one embodiment, NOP information is folded into entries of a re-order buffer.

Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus, method, and system provide for no-operation instruction (“NOP”) folding such that information regarding the presence of a NOP instruction in the instruction stream is folded into a buffer entry for another instruction. Information regarding a target NOP instruction is thus maintained in a buffer entry associated with an instruction other than the target NOP instruction. For at least one embodiment, NOP information is folded into entries of a re-order buffer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for providing ready information to a scheduler. Dependence information is maintained in a relatively small map table, with potential loss of information when dependence information exceeds available space in the map table. Ready instructions are maintained, as space allows, in a select queue. Tags for scheduled instructions are maintained in a lookup queue, and dependency information for the scheduled instruction is maintained in an update queue, as space allows. Ready information for instructions in a scheduling window is updated based upon the information in the update queue. Loss of instruction information may occur, due to space limitations, at the map table, lookup queue, update queue, and/or select queue. Scheduling of lost instructions is handled by a lossy instruction handler.

Abstract: A register renaming technique for dynamic multithreading. One disclosed embodiment includes a register map to store up to M×N values to map M registers for N threads. A set of N values, one per thread, and a set of state bits is associated with each of the M registers. Each set of state bits indicates which of the N values per register are valid and whether ones of the N sets of values have been written by a dynamic execution thread. In response to termination of a dynamic execution thread, recovery logic may update state bits associated with ones of the M registers that were written to during dynamic execution.