Utilizing block size variability to enhance instruction fetch rate

In the past, instruction fetch speeds have been improved by using cache schemes that capture the actual program flow. In this paper, we elaborate on the architecture and operation of an instruction cache named Variable-Sized Block Cache (VSBC) that also makes use of the dynamic behavior of a program...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Beg, Azam, Chu, Yul
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2007
País:Argentina
Institución:Universidad Nacional de La Plata
Repositorio:SEDICI (UNLP)
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:sedici.unlp.edu.ar:10915/9548
Acceso en línea:http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/9548
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Ciencias Informáticas
Cache memories
Variable-Sized Block Cache (VSBC)
Descripción
Sumario:In the past, instruction fetch speeds have been improved by using cache schemes that capture the actual program flow. In this paper, we elaborate on the architecture and operation of an instruction cache named Variable-Sized Block Cache (VSBC) that also makes use of the dynamic behavior of a program. Current trace-based cache schemes usually have some instructions stored repeatedly; this redundancy is eliminated in VSBC. Our cache also allows storage of basic blocks of arbitrary sizes, in multiple-way cache structure. An overall comparison of trace miss rate and average trace length shows VSBC to be a better performing cache scheme than TC, using SPECint2000 integer benchmarks.