Methods of encoding and decoding are described which use a variable number of instruction words to encode instructions from an instruction set, such that different instructions within the instruction set may be encoded using different numbers of instruction words. To encode an instruction, the bits within the instruction are reordered and formed into instruction words based upon their variance as determined using empirical or simulation data. The bits in the instruction words are compared to corresponding predicted values and some or all of the instruction words that match the predicted values are omitted from the encoded instruction.

Methods and apparatus relating to scalar core integration in a graphics processor. In an example, an apparatus comprises a processor to receive a set of workload instructions for a graphics workload from a host complex, determine a first subset of operations in the set of operations that is suitable for execution by a scalar processor complex of the graphics processing device and a second subset of operations in the set of operations that is suitable for execution by a vector processor complex of the graphics processing device, assign the first subset of operations to the scalar processor complex for execution to generate a first set of outputs, assign the second subset of operations to the vector processor complex for execution to generate a second set of outputs. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.

A computer processor is provided that employs a plurality of operand storage elements that store operand data values and associated meta-data as unitary operand data elements as well as at least one functional unit that performs operations that produce and access the unitary operand data elements stored in the plurality of operand storage elements. The meta-data associated with a given operand data value as part of a unitary operand data element can specify type of the unitary operand data element (e.g., vector or scalar), elemental width and floating-point error flags. The meta-data can also be used to define special operand data values (e.g., Not-a-Result and None). The meta-data is useful in optimizing execution, such as in speculation and vectorized SIMD operations. The computer processor can also support a number of particular vector operations that are useful in optimizing execution of vectorized SIMD operations.

A Sort Lists instruction is provided to perform a sort and/or a merge operation. The instruction is an architected machine instruction of an instruction set architecture and is executed by a general-purpose processor of the computing environment. The executing includes sorting a plurality of input lists to obtain one or more sorted output lists, which are output.

Methods and apparatus relating to scalar core integration in a graphics processor. In an example, an apparatus comprises a processor to receive a set of workload instructions for a graphics workload from a host complex, determine a first subset of operations in the set of operations that is suitable for execution by a scalar processor complex of the graphics processing device and a second subset of operations in the set of operations that is suitable for execution by a vector processor complex of the graphics processing device, assign the first subset of operations to the scalar processor complex for execution to generate a first set of outputs, assign the second subset of operations to the vector processor complex for execution to generate a second set of outputs. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.

Methods and apparatus relating to scalar core integration in a graphics processor. In an example, an apparatus comprises a processor to receive a set of workload instructions for a graphics workload from a host complex, determine a first subset of operations in the set of operations that is suitable for execution by a scalar processor complex of the graphics processing device and a second subset of operations in the set of operations that is suitable for execution by a vector processor complex of the graphics processing device, assign the first subset of operations to the scalar processor complex for execution to generate a first set of outputs, assign the second subset of operations to the vector processor complex for execution to generate a second set of outputs. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.

Methods of encoding and decoding are described which use a variable number of instruction words to encode instructions from an instruction set, such that different instructions within the instruction set may be encoded using different numbers of instruction words. To encode an instruction, the bits within the instruction are re-ordered and formed into instruction words based upon their variance as determined using empirical or simulation data. The bits in the instruction words are compared to corresponding predicted values and some or all of the instruction words that match the predicted values are omitted from the encoded instruction.

Methods and apparatus relating to scalar core integration in a graphics processor. In an example, an apparatus comprises a processor to receive a set of workload instructions for a graphics workload from a host complex, determine a first subset of operations in the set of operations that is suitable for execution by a scalar processor complex of the graphics processing device and a second subset of operations in the set of operations that is suitable for execution by a vector processor complex of the graphics processing device, assign the first subset of operations to the scalar processor complex for execution to generate a first set of outputs, assign the second subset of operations to the vector processor complex for execution to generate a second set of outputs. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.

According to one embodiment, a processor includes an instruction decoder to decode a first instruction to gather data elements from memory, the first instruction having a first operand specifying a first storage location and a second operand specifying a first memory address storing a plurality of data elements. The processor further includes an execution unit coupled to the instruction decoder, in response to the first instruction, to read contiguous a first and a second of the data elements from a memory location based on the first memory address indicated by the second operand, and to store the first data element in a first entry of the first storage location and a second data element in a second entry of a second storage location corresponding to the first entry of the first storage location.

Methods and apparatus relating to scalar core integration in a graphics processor. In an example, an apparatus comprises a processor to receive a set of workload instructions for a graphics workload from a host complex, determine a first subset of operations in the set of operations that is suitable for execution by a scalar processor complex of the graphics processing device and a second subset of operations in the set of operations that is suitable for execution by a vector processor complex of the graphics processing device, assign the first subset of operations to the scalar processor complex for execution to generate a first set of outputs, assign the second subset of operations to the vector processor complex for execution to generate a second set of outputs. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.