In one embodiment, a method of selectively reserving portions of a last level cache (LLC) for a multi-core processor, the method comprising: allocating, by an executive system, plural classes of service to the portions of the LLC, wherein the portions comprise ways, and wherein each of the plural classes of service are allocated to one or more of the ways; assigning, by the executive system, one of the plural classes of service to an application as a default class of service, wherein the assignment controls which of the ways the application can allocate into; and overriding, by the application, the default class of service to enable allocation by the application to the one or more of the ways associated with a non-default class of service.

In one embodiment, a method of selectively reserving portions of a last level cache (LLC) for a multi-core processor, the method comprising: allocating, by an executive system, plural classes of service to the portions of the LLC, wherein the portions comprise ways, and wherein each of the plural classes of service are allocated to one or more of the ways; assigning, by the executive system, one of the plural classes of service to an application as a default class of service, wherein the assignment controls which of the ways the application can allocate into; and overriding, by the application, the default class of service to enable allocation by the application to the one or more of the ways associated with a non-default class of service.

A compressed memory system includes a memory region that includes cache lines having priority levels. The compressed memory system also includes a compressed memory region that includes compressed cache lines. Each compressed cache line includes a first set of data bits configured to hold, in a first direction, either a portion of a first cache line or a portion of the first cache line after compression, the first cache line having a first priority level. Each compressed cache line also includes a second set of data bits configured to hold, in a second direction opposite to the first direction, either a portion of a second cache line or a portion of the second cache line after compression, the second cache line having a priority level lower than the first priority level. The first set of data bits includes a greater number of bits than the second set of data bits.

A compressed memory system includes a memory region that includes cache lines having priority levels. The compressed memory system also includes a compressed memory region that includes compressed cache lines. Each compressed cache line includes a first set of data bits configured to hold, in a first direction, either a portion of a first cache line or a portion of the first cache line after compression, the first cache line having a first priority level. Each compressed cache line also includes a second set of data bits configured to hold, in a second direction opposite to the first direction, either a portion of a second cache line or a portion of the second cache line after compression, the second cache line having a priority level lower than the first priority level. The first set of data bits includes a greater number of bits than the second set of data bits.

A computer-implemented method for managing cache utilization of at least a first processor when sharing a cache with a further processor. The method includes: executing, during a first regulation interval, a first application on a first processor, wherein the first application causes at least one block to be mapped from an external memory to a shared cache according to a cache utilization policy associated with the first application; monitoring a utilization of the shared cache by the first processor during the first regulation interval; comparing the utilization of the shared cache by the first processor to a cache utilization condition associated with the first processor; and adjusting the cache utilization policy associated with the first application, when the utilization of the shared cache by the first processor exceeds the cache utilization condition associated with the first processor.

A computer-implemented method for managing cache utilization of at least a first processor when sharing a cache with a further processor. The method includes: executing, during a first regulation interval, a first application on a first processor, wherein the first application causes at least one block to be mapped from an external memory to a shared cache according to a cache utilization policy associated with the first application; monitoring a utilization of the shared cache by the first processor during the first regulation interval; comparing the utilization of the shared cache by the first processor to a cache utilization condition associated with the first processor; and adjusting the cache utilization policy associated with the first application, when the utilization of the shared cache by the first processor exceeds the cache utilization condition associated with the first processor.

A processor comprises a core, a cache, and a ZCM manager in communication with the core and the cache. In response to an access request from a first software component, wherein the access request involves a memory address within a cache line, the ZCM manager is to (a) compare an OTAG associated with the memory address against a first ITAG for the first software component, (b) if the OTAG matches the first ITAG, complete the access request, and (c) if the OTAG does not match the first ITAG, abort the access request. Also, in response to a send request from the first software component, the ZCM manager is to change the OTAG associated with the memory address to match a second ITAG for a second software component. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

An apparatus includes a processor core and a memory hierarchy. The memory hierarchy includes main memory and one or more caches between the main memory and the processor core. A plurality of hardware pre-fetchers are coupled to the memory hierarchy and a pre-fetch control circuit is coupled to the plurality of hardware pre-fetchers. The pre-fetch control circuit is configured to compare changes in one or more cache performance metrics over two or more sampling intervals and control operation of the plurality of hardware pre-fetchers in response to a change in one or more performance metrics between at least a first sampling interval and a second sampling interval.

An apparatus includes a processor core and a memory hierarchy. The memory hierarchy includes main memory and one or more caches between the main memory and the processor core. A plurality of hardware pre-fetchers are coupled to the memory hierarchy and a pre-fetch control circuit is coupled to the plurality of hardware pre-fetchers. The pre-fetch control circuit is configured to compare changes in one or more cache performance metrics over two or more sampling intervals and control operation of the plurality of hardware pre-fetchers in response to a change in one or more performance metrics between at least a first sampling interval and a second sampling interval.

A streaming engine employed in a digital data processor specifies a fixed read only data stream defined by plural nested loops. An address generator produces address of data elements. A steam head register stores data elements next to be supplied to functional units for use as operands. The streaming engine stores an early address of next to be fetched data elements and a late address of a data element in the stream head register for each of the nested loops. The streaming engine stores an early loop counts of next to be fetched data elements and a late loop counts of a data element in the stream head register for each of the nested loops.