Are RISC processors getting traction for data center use cases?

What is RISC?

RISC- Reduced Instruction Set Computer

What is an Instruction Set?

An instruction set lists commands a CPU understands and performs different operations

Ok coming back to RISC, it is a type of computer architecture that uses a small, optimized set of instructions, as opposed to Complex Instruction Set Computing (CISC) architectures, which have a larger instruction set

• Simplicity: RISC designs focus on a simplified instruction set to execute operations and tasks in fewer clock cycles, clearly higher performance at a lower cost
• Separate Load and Store Operations: In load/ store architectures, there are distinct instructions for loading data from memory into registers (load) and storing data from registers back into memory (store). This means that all computations take place in registers, which allow quicker access as compared to back-and-forth data fetching from main memory
• Pipelining: RISC architectures are better suited for pipeline processing, where multiple instruction phases are overlapped to improve execution speed
• Increased Parallelism: RISC architectures excel in multicore designs, here begins the number of core counts/ CPU war. The latest nodes enable manufacturers to develop chips with many more cores, which significantly increases the performance of the concurrent workloads typical in data centers

Oh, what is a pipeline architecture? Here you go?

Consider a pipe with many insertion points for a typical fluid flow. On these points, the CPU operates the instructions e.g. Instruction Fetch (IF): The CPU fetches the next instruction from memory; Instruction Decode (ID): The fetched instruction is decoded to determine what operation it specifies, and the relevant data (operands) are fetched from registers; Execute (EX): The actual operation is performed; Memory Access (MEM): If the instruction requires accessing memory (for load or store operations), this stage handles that data transfer; Write Back (WB): The result of the execution (if applicable) is written back to the register file. By allowing multiple instructions to be in different stages of execution at the same time, the CPU can complete more instructions with fewer cycles

• Compiler Efficiency: The simplicity of the instruction set allows for more efficient compiler designs that can optimize instruction usage

RISC for MAC implementation?

What is MAC

The MAC operation typically involves multiplying two numbers and then adding the result to an accumulated value

Where are MACs used?

In ML, neural networks, where every node has a typical set of numbers associated with it, and these numbers across all the nodes are consistently updated after multiplication and addition cycles

• Single-Cycle Execution: Ideally, in a RISC system, both the multiplication and addition can be managed using separate instructions that are completed in one clock cycle
• Pipeline Efficiency: Multiple instructions can be executed in overlapping stages, which enhances the performance of MAC operations by enabling other computations while waiting for the results
• Some RISC architectures provide specific instructions for MAC operations directly: MUL for multiplication and ADD for addition. This can further enhance performance by reducing the number of instructions needed to operate
• Scenarios without a dedicated MAC instruction: Programmers can implement the MAC operation by issuing separate multiplication and addition instructions using RISC pipelines

RISC Ecosystem

• Compilers: RISC architectures have specialized compilers (GCC for ARM and RISC-V) that translate high-level programming languages into efficient machine code tailored for RISC processors
• Integrated Development Environments (IDEs): Software environments that facilitate the coding, debugging, and testing of RISC-based applications. Examples include Eclipse and Keil for ARM development

• Operating system support for RISC: Many modern operating systems, such as Linux, FreeRTOS, and Windows Embedded, support RISC architectures, providing the necessary software environment for application development and execution

• Hardware Development Kits (HDKs): These kits allow developers to build and prototype applications on RISC architecture platforms. They often include development boards featuring RISC processors
• FPGA Implementations: RISC architectures can also be implemented on FPGAs (Field-Programmable Gate Arrays), allowing for customizable hardware solutions... Accelerators?

• Open-Source Initiatives: RISC-V is an open-source RISC architecture that has garnered a large community of developers and researchers, contributing to software and hardware advancements
• RISC on the latest Silicon process node: Many leading RISC processors are now being produced using cutting-edge 5nm and 7nm process nodes, ready to get even smaller
• 3D IC Technology: Some RISC processors also utilize 3D IC (Integrated Circuit) technology, stacking multiple layers of silicon dies vertically. This can improve performance and reduce latency while saving space
• Containers and Virtualization: RISC processors are well-suited for modern data center paradigms, including containerized applications and virtualization

Are RISC processors ready to take off (or took off already) for data center use cases?

Indeed, RISC processors took off for data center use cases, driven by their performance capabilities, energy efficiency, scalability, and increasing support from the software ecosystem. With significant adoption by cloud service providers and specialized hardware manufacturers, RISC architectures are proving to be a competitive option for various data center workloads. As technology and implementations continue to evolve, RISC processors are likely to play an increasingly important role in the future of data center computing

Thanks Eddie Ramirez ; Dave Evans ; Alexis Black Bjorlin ; Jeff Wittich ; Ganesh Guruswamy ; Christopher Bergey

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