A slipstream processor is an architecture designed to reduce the length of a running program by removing the non-essential instructions. It is a form of speculative computing.
Non-essential instructions include such things as results that are not written to memory, or compare operations that will always return true. Also as statistically most branch instructions will be taken it makes sense to assume this will always be the case.
Because of the speculation involved slipstream processors are generally described as having two parallel executing streams. One is an optimized faster A-stream (advanced stream) executing the reduced code, the other is the slower R-stream (redundant stream), which runs behind the A-stream and executes the full code. The R-stream runs faster than if it were a single stream due to data being prefetched by the A-stream effectively hiding memory latency, and due to the A-stream's assistance with branch prediction. The two streams both complete faster than a single stream would. As of 2005, theoretical studies[which?] have shown that this configuration can lead to a speedup of around 20%.[citation needed]
The main problem with this approach is accuracy: as the A-stream becomes more accurate and less speculative, the overall system runs slower[citation needed]. Furthermore, a large enough distance is needed between the A-stream and the R-stream so that cache misses generated by the A-stream do not slow down the R-stream.
Referencesedit
Z. Purser, K. Sundaramoorthy and E. Rotenberg, "A Study of Slipstream Processors", Proc. 33rd Ann. Int'l Symp. Microarchitecture, Monterey, CA, Dec. 2000.
May 18, 2024
slipstream, computer, science, other, uses, slipstream, disambiguation, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sourc. For other uses see Slipstream disambiguation This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Slipstream computer science news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2021 Learn how and when to remove this message A slipstream processor is an architecture designed to reduce the length of a running program by removing the non essential instructions It is a form of speculative computing Non essential instructions include such things as results that are not written to memory or compare operations that will always return true Also as statistically most branch instructions will be taken it makes sense to assume this will always be the case Because of the speculation involved slipstream processors are generally described as having two parallel executing streams One is an optimized faster A stream advanced stream executing the reduced code the other is the slower R stream redundant stream which runs behind the A stream and executes the full code The R stream runs faster than if it were a single stream due to data being prefetched by the A stream effectively hiding memory latency and due to the A stream s assistance with branch prediction The two streams both complete faster than a single stream would As of 2005 theoretical studies which have shown that this configuration can lead to a speedup of around 20 citation needed The main problem with this approach is accuracy as the A stream becomes more accurate and less speculative the overall system runs slower citation needed Furthermore a large enough distance is needed between the A stream and the R stream so that cache misses generated by the A stream do not slow down the R stream References editZ Purser K Sundaramoorthy and E Rotenberg A Study of Slipstream Processors Proc 33rd Ann Int l Symp Microarchitecture Monterey CA Dec 2000 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Slipstream computer science amp oldid 1016441612, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
