Abstract: Independent power control of two or more processing cores. More particularly, at least one embodiment of the invention pertains to a technique to place at least one processing core in a power state without coordinating with the power state of one or more other processing cores.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for using micro-op caches in processors are disclosed. A tag match for an instruction pointer retrieves a set of micro-op cache line access tuples having matching tags. The set is stored in a match queue. Line access tuples from the match queue are used to access cache lines in a micro-op cache data array to supply a micro-op queue. On a micro-op cache miss, a macroinstruction translation engine (MITE) decodes macroinstructions to supply the micro-op queue. Instruction pointers are stored in a miss queue for fetching macroinstructions from the MITE. The MITE may be disabled to conserve power when the miss queue is empty-likewise for the micro-op cache data array when the match queue is empty. Synchronization flags in the last micro-op from the micro-op cache on a subsequent micro-op cache miss indicate where micro-ops from the MITE merge with micro-ops from the micro-op cache.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates to operation frame filtering, building, and execution. Some embodiments include identifying a frame signature, counting a number of execution occurrences of the frame signature, and building a frame of operations to execute instead of operations identified by the frame signature.

Abstract: The present subject matter relates to operation frame filtering, building, and execution. Some embodiments include identifying a frame signature, counting a number of execution occurrences of the frame signature, and building a frame of operations to execute instead of operations identified by the frame signature.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for determining if an entry corresponding to a prediction address is present in a first predictor, and overriding a prediction output from a second predictor corresponding to the prediction address if the entry is present in the first predictor. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to improve integrated circuit (IC) performance across a range of operating conditions and/or physical constraints are described. In one embodiment, an operating parameter of one or more of processor cores may be adjusted in response to a change in the activity level of processor cores (e.g., the number of active processor cores) and/or a comparison of one or more operating conditions and one or more corresponding threshold values. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for executing an operation on low order portions of first and second source operands using a first execution stack of a processor and executing the operation on high order portions of the first and second source operands using a second execution stack of the processor, where the operation in the second execution stack is staggered by one or more cycles from the operation in the first execution stack. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method includes scheduling a load operation at least twice the size of a maximum access supported by a memory device, dividing the load operation into a plurality of separate load operation segments having a size equivalent to the maximum access supported by the memory device, and performing each of the plurality of load operation segments. A further method is disclosed where a temporary register is used to minimize the number of memory accesses to support unaligned accesses.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for partitioning a microprocessor pipeline to support pipelined branch prediction and instruction fetching of multiple execution threads. A thread selection stage selects a thread from a plurality of execution threads. In one embodiment, storage in a branch prediction output queue is pre-allocated to a portion of the thread in one branch prediction stage in order to prevent stalling of subsequent stages in the branch prediction pipeline. In another embodiment, an instruction fetch stage fetches instructions at a fetch address corresponding to a portion of the selected thread. Another instruction fetch stage stores the instruction data in an instruction fetch output queue if enough storage is available. Otherwise, instruction fetch stages corresponding to the selected thread are invalidated and refetched to avoid stalling preceding stages in the instruction fetch pipeline, which may be fetching instructions of another thread.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for flow optimization and prediction for vector streaming single instruction, multiple data (SIMD) extension (VSSE) memory operations is disclosed. The method comprises generating an optimized micro-operation (?op) flow for an instruction to operate on a vector if the instruction is predicted to be unmasked and unit-stride, the instruction to access elements in memory, and accessing via the optimized ?op flow two or more of the elements at the same time without determining masks of the two or more elements. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to operate various logic blocks of an integrated circuit (IC) at independent voltages are described. In one embodiment, supply of power to one or more domains in an IC is adjusted based on an indication that power consumption by components of the corresponding domain is to be modified. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Independent power control of two or more processing cores.

Abstract: Techniques for vector completion mask (VCM) handling are provided. A data structure includes a mask field for each operand of a particular operation. A processor attempts to execute the operation with multiple operands, which are identified in the data structure by the mask fields. If operands are successfully retrieved for execution with the operation, then the corresponding mask field within the data structure is cleared. The processor can reset if any field remains set within the data structure and can re-process the operation with operands that were not previously handled with the operation.

Abstract: A technique to filter bogus instructions from a processor pipeline. At least one embodiment of the invention detects a bogus event, removes only instructions from the processor corresponding to the bogus event without affecting instructions not corresponding to the bogus event.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to perform efficient instruction fetch operations are described. In an embodiment, one or more bits are utilized to determine when to modify an entry in a storage unit of a processor. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to redispatch an operation for execution in a processor are described. In one embodiment, a virtual address corresponding to a store instruction may be reselected for translation into a physical address in response to remaining unselected during a previous selection process. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a method for determining if an entry corresponding to a prediction address is present in a first predictor, and overriding a prediction output from a second predictor corresponding to the prediction address if the entry is present in the first predictor. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for partitioning a microprocessor pipeline to support pipelined branch prediction and instruction fetching of multiple execution threads. A thread selection stage selects a thread from a plurality of execution threads. In one embodiment, storage in a branch prediction output queue is pre-allocated to a portion of the thread in one branch prediction stage in order to prevent stalling of subsequent stages in the branch prediction pipeline. In another embodiment, an instruction fetch stage fetches instructions at a fetch address corresponding to a portion of the selected thread. Another instruction fetch stage stores the instruction data in an instruction fetch output queue if enough storage is available. Otherwise, instruction fetch stages corresponding to the selected thread are invalidated and refetched to avoid stalling preceding stages in the instruction fetch pipeline, which may be fetching instructions of another thread.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for partitioning a microprocessor pipeline to support pipelined branch prediction and instruction fetching of multiple execution threads. A thread selection stage selects a thread from a plurality of execution threads. In one embodiment, storage in a branch prediction output queue is pre-allocated to a portion of the thread in one branch prediction stage in order to prevent stalling of subsequent stages in the branch prediction pipeline. In another embodiment, an instruction fetch stage fetches instructions at a fetch address corresponding to a portion of the selected thread. Another instruction fetch stage stores the instruction data in an instruction fetch output queue if enough storage is available. Otherwise, instruction fetch stages corresponding to the selected thread are invalidated and refetched to avoid stalling preceding stages in the instruction fetch pipeline, which may be fetching instructions of another thread.

Abstract: A technique to perform three-source instructions. At least one embodiment of the invention relates to converting a three-source instruction into at least two instructions identifying no more than two source values.