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Limited dual path execution (1997)
| Content Provider | CiteSeerX |
|---|---|
| Author | Tyson, Gary Lick, Kelsey Farrens, Matthew |
| Abstract | This work presents a hybrid branch predictor scheme that uses a limited form of dual path execution along with dynamic branch prediction to improve execution times. The ability to execute down both paths of a conditional branch enables the branch penalty to be minimized; however, relying exclusively on dual path execution is infeasible due because instruction fetch rates far exceed the capability of the pipeline to retire a single branch before others must be processed. By using confidence information, available in the dynamic branch prediction state tables, a limited form of dual path execution becomes feasible. This reduces the burden on the branch predictor by allowing predictions of low confidence to be avoided. In this study we present a new approach to gather branch prediction confidence with little or no overhead, and use this confidence mechanism to determine whether dual path execution or branch predic-tion should be used. Comparing this hybrid predictor model to the dynamic branch predictor shows a dra-matic decrease in misprediction rate, which translates to an reduction in runtime of over 20%. These results imply that dual path execution, which often is thought to be an excessively resource consuming method, may be a worthy approach if restricted with an appropriate predicting set. 1. |
| File Format | |
| Language | English |
| Publisher Date | 1997-01-01 |
| Access Restriction | Open |
| Subject Keyword | Dual Path Execution Limited Dual Path Execution Limited Form Instruction Fetch Rate New Approach Branch Predictor Low Confidence Branch Prediction Confidence Worthy Approach Branch Penalty Dynamic Branch Prediction Single Branch Conditional Branch Hybrid Predictor Model Appropriate Predicting Misprediction Rate Execution Time Confidence Information Dynamic Branch Prediction State Table Branch Predic-tion Confidence Mechanism Excessively Resource Dynamic Branch Predictor Hybrid Branch Predictor Scheme Dra-matic Decrease |
| Content Type | Text |
| Resource Type | Technical Report |
