Computer Architecture of the Future.
Highlights of a Presentation by Dr. Eric Kronstadt; September 11, 2000.

Are there any really big things coming?
No, Except for the EPIC technology. Instead, a lot of interesting small things:
Software technology is developing, such as multithreading, speculation, prediction, profiling;
Virtual architectures such as binary translation; 
Java Multimedia extensions-such as for games; and
Power management.

Microarchitectures are evolving

EPIC like
Ultra High Speed
Multi-processors on a chip
Out of order Replication
Dynamic Binary Translation

The EPIC Technology

Pros
Software takes the place of some hardware.  This allows faster development, and also quicker to market
Uses software techniques such as speculation and prediction
Gives possibility of a clean new architecture

Cons
Not very tolerant to unpredictable events
Can lead to memory system loading--leads to code bloat
Need wide, p;arallel, synchronous designs--a challenge
Do we need a clean new architecture??

 
   

 
   

     
 

 Binary translation--IBM sponsored a DAISY project (Dynamic Architecture Instruction Set from Yorktown).  At one time a URL existed (may still) where one could play with the technology:
www.research.ibm.com/daisy

Process is called "code-morphing".
Trans-Meta Corp uses this kind of technology.
In the 1990's we used Bi-Polar technology.  As it matured, CMOS technology was being developed to solve power consumption, speed limits on BP.  There is no replacement for CMOS in the wings.  We will instead have to go to multiprocessors on a chip and other techniques for advances. 
This is causing a design productivity gap. 
Memory systems are not keeping up with processor speeds. Some answers:

  • Bigger and more caches
  • Prediction--computer guesses as to what is needed.
  • Wider buses
  • Finite CPI adder.

An example: The BLUE GENE supercomputer under development by IBM will be used to help find how proteins fold.  The basic performance of a single processor will not be extraordinary, but the system will solve at 1015 flops. There will be one million processors.  Each chip will have 32 processors, and there will be 32,768 chips.  The processors will be 500MHz with 0.5 MB memory.  The software for use on this computer is under development. 



     
       
   

 
   

   

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