Tartan: evaluating spatial computation for whole program execution

Spatial Computing (SC) has been shown to be an energy-efficient model for implementing program kernels. In this paper we explore the feasibility of using SC for more than small kernels. To this end, we evaluate the performance and energy efficiency of entire applications on Tartan, a general-purpose architecture which integrates a reconfigurable fabric (RF) with a superscalar core. Our compiler automatically partitions and compiles an application into an instruction stream for the core and a configuration for the RF. We use a detailed simulator to capture both timing and energy numbers for all parts of the system. Our results indicate that a hierarchical RF architecture, designed around a scalable interconnect, is instrumental in harnessing the benefits of spatial computation. The interconnect uses static configuration and routing at the lower levels and a packet-switched, dynamically-routed network at the top level. Tartan is most energyefficient when almost all of the applica...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2006
• Where: ASPLOS
• Authors: Mahim Mishra, Timothy J. Callahan, Tiberiu Chelcea, Girish Venkataramani, Seth Copen Goldstein, Mihai Budiu
• Keywords: Aggressive Superscalar Core, ASPLOS 2006, Hierarchical Rf Architecture, Programming Languages, Superscalar Core