On 09/26/2013 02:48 PM, Stefan Kristiansson wrote:
> Yes, the wiring in cappucino's LSU has became confusing, I know...
> It has became that way from the additions of the store buffer and the
> tlb reload,
> and the plan I had to cure it unfortunately doesn't go well with what
> you line out
> below...
> I wanted to remove *all* bus access logic from the dcache and control it
> completely from the state machine in the LSU (the writes were already
> moved out of the cache with the storebuffer addition, but refills are
> still left).
I would propose to take the current LSU and try to make the stuff more
explicit, like dedicated muxes/arbiters to have a clear block-like
structure again. Then I think it is easier to discuss this. I hope I can
do it before ORCONF so that I have a better knowledge about priorities
etc. in there. Then we may discuss it personally or so. You are there,
correct?
> However, the "cost an extra cycle here and there" needs to be more
> specific. To be clear, the main motivation for the store buffer was
> to ensure single cycle writes as opposed to two-cycle writes
> that is the maximum achievable wishbone access without
> resorting to bursts.
I understand the argument, but there are a few things I have in mind.
For example the priorization of SB vs. Cache, especially what happens if
a write misses in cache and gets a refill, while the corresponding write
is still in store buffer. Another question is the consistency, which is
undefined until now. But I think it is way better to discuss such stuff
once I also have a clear picture of the control and data flow in the LSU.

Another thing you may be able to answer: Do memory barriers work in
mor1kx? I think they were missing in or1200. The presence of those would
even allow for store buffers in coherent caches (in relaxed consistency).
> And I'm not sure I completely understand how the "behind" the
> cache differs from how it is currently implemented, the cache
> is not behind the storebuffer as it is now, the stores happens
> simultaneously to the store buffer and the cache.
> So if the cache want to prevent the store to happen to
> the storebuffer, that would be possible.
Sounds reasonable. I think I just have to figure out how it exactly
works, maybe it was just some confusion.
> But, I'm looking forward to take a look at your work and
> we can continue discussion from there.
ACK, I think we will push it by begin of next week. Currently I also try
to bring N>2 ways into it.

> Stefan
Stefan :)

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