Multi-Core Processors

The Next Generation

Contents• What Is A Microprocessor?• Single Core Processor• Introduction To Multi-Core Processors• Why Multi-Core : Advantages• Multi-Core Architecture• Implementations To Enhance Performance• Application, Disadvantages & Comparison• Future Of Multi-Core Processors• Conclusion• References

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What is a Microprocessor?• Programmable integrated device• Computing and decision-making capability• Embedded in a larger system• A standalone unit controlling processes• Functions as the CPU of a computer called microcomputer

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Single Core Processor• Contains single processing unit

• A processing unit consists of

• Arithmetic & Logic Unit (ALU)

• Control Unit (CU)

• Memory Unit (i.e. Registers)

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Processing Unit Design

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Single Core Processor Contd.• Drawbacks

• Clock frequency must be increased for faster job execution

• Higher clock frequency increases power consumption

• Results in higher rate of heat generation & dissipation

• Therefore, performance & efficiency drastically decreased6

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Introduction To Multi-Core Processor• Two or more independent processing cores combined into single chip

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Why Multi-Core : Advantages

• Simultaneous execution

• Moore Law supportive

• Lesser power consumption

• Lesser heat generation

• Instruction level parallelism

• Multithreaded applications

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Multi-Core Architecture

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• Multiprocessing in a single package • Cores may be coupled tightly/loosely• Cores may or may not share caches• May implement message passing or common shared memory methods • Common Network topologies used to inter-connect the different cores • Homogeneous & Heterogeneous

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Implementations To Enhance Performance

• Pipelining: Subsequent instruction begins to execute before completion of the previous one i.e. Parallel processing

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Implementations To Enhance Performance

• Multithreading: Time is divided and interlaced between more than one thread to simulate simultaneous execution

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Implementations To Enhance Performance

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• Multithreading: Time is divided and interlaced between more than one thread to simulate simultaneous execution

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Applications• Multimedia Applications• Database servers• Web servers • CAD/CAM• Encoding • 3D gaming• Video editing • Powerful graphics solution • Optimized productivity titles

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Disadvantages

• Multi threading is also a problem when the software being run is not

designed to take advantage of the multi core processor

• Costs more than single core processors

• Cache coherence

• Does not work at twice the speed as a normal processor

• More difficult to manage thermally than lower-density single-core processors

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Multi-Core Over Single Core : Comparison

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Single Core Processor (45 nm) Multi-Core Processor (45 nm)

Vdd (V) 1.0 1.0

I/O Pins (Total) 1280 (ITRS) 3000 (Estimated)

Operating frequency (GHz) 7.8 4

Chip-Package Data Rate (Gb/s) 7.8 4

Bandwidth (GB/s) 125 1000

Power (W) 429.78 107.39

Total Number Of Pins On Chip 3840 9000 (Estimated)

Number Of Pins On The Package 2480 4500 (Estimated)

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Future Of Multi-Core Processors

• ‘Homogeneous’ vs. ‘Heterogeneous’ argument (Moore, Hasegawa,

Agarwal)

• Next-generation software applications will require the performance

capacity provided by multi-core processors

• Will help to break barriers in the user experience i.e. Voice

recognition, Pattern Recognition, AI oriented problems etc.

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Conclusion• An important new trend in computer architecture

• Several new multi-core processors now in design phase

• Parallel programming techniques likely to gain importance

• Still will be some applications for single-core processors

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References• www.intel.com/multi-core/• www.faqs.org/patents/app/20090055826• www.csa.com/discoveryguides/multicore/review2.php?SID=s0s5lp3hcg6fa6

pf2ba28u84d0• www.google.co.in• Stallings, William, “Computer Organization and Architecture : Designing for

Performance”, Ninth Edition, 2013• Hennessy, John L., Patterson ,David A., “Computer Architecture : A

Quantitative Approach”, Seventh Edition, 2012• Merritt, R., “CPU Designers Debate Multi-core Future”, EETimes Online,

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Thank You