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Timekeeping in the Memory System: Predicting and Optimizing Memory Behavior

Tuesday March 4, 2003
Hamerschlag Hall 1112
4:30 p.m.



Nikos Hardavellas
Carnegie Mellon University

Technological advancements in semiconductor fabrication, coupled with architectural innovation, have resulted in lighting-speed improvements in processor performance which doubles every 18 months. On the other hand, memory performance improves at a glacial 10% annually. The memory wall is rising fast and promotes memory reference behavior to the dominant factor determining overall performance of many important applications. Techniques to predict memory reference patterns are on the rescue, and have attracted a flurry of interest at top computer architecture conferences. Additionally, new trends in processor architecture and software engineering offer fresh opportunities to speculation at the memory system. In their recent work, Zhigang Hu, Stefanos Kaxiras and Margaret Martonosi offer a new perspective on the problem of using prediction to optimize memory behavior. They show quantitatively the extent to which detailed time characteristics of past memory reference events are predictive of future reference patterns, and propose a new family of predictors. This talk reviews their work with the same title, aiming to provoke thinking and discussion on the issue.


Nikos Hardavellas is a first year PhD student in the Computer Science Department at Carnegie Mellon. He is advised by Babak Falsafi and Anastassia Ailamaki. His primary interests are in microprocessor and multiprocessor architecture, and performance analysis of database systems.

 

Department of Electrical and Computer EngineeringCarnegie Mellon UniversitySchool of Computer Science