SPARC
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SPARC (from Scalable Processor Architecture) is a RISC instruction set architecture (ISA) originally designed in 1985 by Sun Microsystems.
SPARC is a registered trademark of SPARC International, Inc., an organization established in 1989 to promote the SPARC architecture and to provide conformance testing. SPARC International was intended to open the SPARC architecture to make a larger ecosystem for the design, which has been licensed to several manufacturers, including Texas Instruments, Atmel, Cypress Semiconductor, and Fujitsu. As a result of SPARC International, the SPARC architecture is fully open and non-proprietary.
Implementations of the SPARC architecture were initially designed and used for Sun's Sun-4 workstation and server systems, replacing their earlier Sun-3 systems based on the Motorola 68000 family of processors. Later, SPARC processors were used in SMP servers produced by Sun Microsystems, Solbourne and Fujitsu, among others.
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[edit] Features
The SPARC architecture was heavily influenced by the earlier RISC designs including the RISC I & II from the University of California, Berkeley and the IBM 801. These original RISC designs were minimalist, including as few features or op-codes as possible and aiming to execute instructions at a rate of almost one instruction per clock cycle. This made them similar to the MIPS architecture in many ways, including the lack of instructions such as multiply or divide. Another feature of SPARC influenced by this early RISC movement is the branch delay slot.
The SPARC processor usually contains as many as 128 general purpose registers. At any point, only 32 of them are immediately visible to software - 8 are global registers (one of which, g0, is hard-wired to zero, so only 7 of them are usable as registers) and the other 24 are from the stack of registers. These 24 registers form what is called a register window, and at function call/return, this window is moved up and down the register stack. Each window has 8 local registers and shares 8 registers with each of the adjacent windows. The shared registers are used for passing function parameters and returning values, and the local registers are used for retaining local values across function calls. The "Scalable" in SPARC comes from the fact that the SPARC specification allows implementations to scale from embedded processors up through large server processors, all sharing the same core (nonprivileged) instruction set. One of the architectural parameters that can scale is the number of implemented register windows; the specification allows from 3 to 32 windows to be implemented, so the implementation can choose to implement all 32 to provide maximum call stack efficiency, or to implement only 3 to reduce context switching time, or to implement some number between them. Other architectures that include similar register file features include Intel i960, IA-64, and AMD 29000.
The architecture has gone through a few revisions. It gained hardware multiply and divide functionality in Version 8. The most substantial upgrade resulted in Version 9, which is a 64-bit (addressing and data) SPARC specification.
In SPARC Version 8, the floating point register file has 16 double precision registers. Each of them can be used as two single precision registers, providing a total of 32 single precision registers. An odd-even number pair of double precision registers can be used as a quad precision register, thus allowing 8 quad precision registers. SPARC Version 9 added 16 more double precision registers (which can also be accessed as 8 quad precision registers), but these additional registers can not be accessed as single precision registers.
Tagged add and subtract instructions perform adds and subtracts on values assuming that the bottom two bits do not participate in the computation. This can be useful in the implementation of the run time for ML, Lisp, and similar languages that might use a tagged integer format.
The 32-bit SPARC V8 architecture is purely big-endian. The 64-bit SPARC V9 architecture utilizes big-endian instructions, but can access data in either big-endian or little-endian byte order, chosen either at the application instruction (load/store) level or at the memory page level (via an MMU setting). The latter is often used for accessing data from inherently little-endian devices, such as those on PCI buses.
[edit] History
There have been three major revisions of the architecture. The first published revision was the 32-bit SPARC Version 7 (V7) in 1986. SPARC Version 8 (V8), an enhanced SPARC architecture definition, was released in 1990. SPARC V8 was standardized as IEEE 1754-1994, an IEEE standard for a 32-bit microprocessor architecture. SPARC Version 9, the 64-bit SPARC architecture, was released by SPARC International in 1993. In early 2006, Sun released an extended architecture specification, UltraSPARC Architecture 2005. UltraSPARC Architecture 2005 includes not only the nonprivileged and most of the privileged portions of SPARC V9, but also all the architectural extensions (such as CMT, hyperprivileged, VIS 1, and VIS 2) present in Sun's UltraSPARC processors starting with the UltraSPARC T1 implementation. UltraSPARC Architecture 2005 includes Sun's standard extensions and remains compliant with the full SPARC V9 Level 1 specification. The architecture has provided continuous application binary compatibility from the first SPARC V7 implementation in 1987 into the Sun UltraSPARC Architecture implementations.
As of December 2005 Sun announced their UltraSPARC T1 design would be open sourced, and in March 2006 the full source code became available via the OpenSPARC project.
Among various implementations of SPARC, Sun's SuperSPARC and UltraSPARC-I were very popular, and were used as reference systems for SPEC CPU95 and CPU2000 benchmarks. The 296 MHz UltraSPARC-II is the reference system for the SPEC CPU2006 benchmark.
The SPARC architecture has been licensed to many companies who have developed and fabricated implementations such as:
- Bipolar Integrated Technology (BIT)
- Cypress Semiconductor
- Fujitsu and Fujitsu Microelectronics
- HAL Computer Systems
- LSI Logic
- Metaflow Technologies
- Ross Technology, Inc
- Solbourne Computer
- Weitek
- Afara Websystems
[edit] SPARC microprocessor specifications
This table contains specifications for certain SPARC processors: frequency (megahertz), architecture version, release year, number of threads (threads per core multiplied by the number of cores), fabrication process (micrometers), number of transistors (millions), die size (square millimeters), number of I/O pins, dissipated power (watts), voltage, and cache sizes—data, instruction, L2 and L3 (kibibytes).
| Name (codename) | Model | Frequency (MHz) | Arch. version | Year | Total threads[1] | Process (µm) | Transistors (millions) | Die size (mm²) | IO Pins | Power (W) | Voltage (V) | L1 Dcache (k) | L1 Icache (k) | L2 Cache (k) | L3 Cache (k) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPARC | (various)[2] | 14.28–40 | V7 | 1987-1992 | 1×1=1 | 0.8–1.3 | ~0.1–1.8 | -- | 160–256 | -- | -- | 0–128 (unified) | none | none | ||
| microSPARC I (Tsunami) | TI TMS390S10 | 40–50 | V8 | 1992 | 1×1=1 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 225? | 288 | 2.5 | 5 | 2 | 4 | none | none | |
| SuperSPARC I (Viking) | TI TMX390Z50 / Sun STP1020 | 33–60 | V8 | 1992 | 1×1=1 | 0.8 | 3.1 | -- | 293 | 14.3 | 5 | 16 | 20 | 0-2048 | none | |
| SPARClite | Fujitsu MB8683x | 66–108 | V8E | 1992 | 1×1=1 | -- | -- | -- | 144–176 | -- | 2.5/3.3V | 1–16 | 1–16 | none | none | |
| hyperSPARC (Colorado 1) | Ross RT620A | 40–90 | V8 | 1993 | 1×1=1 | 0.5 | 1.5 | -- | -- | -- | 5? | 0 | 8 | 128-256 | none | |
| microSPARC II (Swift) | Fujitsu MB86904 / Sun STP1012 | 60–125 | V8 | 1994 | 1×1=1 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 233 | 321 | 5 | 3.3 | 8 | 16 | none | none | |
| hyperSPARC (Colorado 2) | Ross RT620B | 90–125 | V8 | 1994 | 1×1=1 | 0.4 | 1.5 | -- | -- | -- | 3.3 | 0 | 8 | 128-256 | none | |
| SuperSPARC II (Voyager) | Sun STP1021 | 75–90 | V8 | 1994 | 1×1=1 | 0.8 | 3.1 | 299 | -- | 16 | -- | 16 | 20 | 1024-2048 | none | |
| hyperSPARC (Colorado 3) | Ross RT620C | 125–166 | V8 | 1995 | 1×1=1 | 0.35 | 1.5 | -- | -- | -- | 3.3 | 0 | 8 | 512-1024 | none | |
| TurboSPARC | Fujitsu MB86907 | 160–180 | V8 | 1995 | 1×1=1 | 0.35 | 3.0 | 132 | 416 | 7 | 3.5 | 16 | 16 | 512 | none | |
| UltraSPARC (Spitfire) | Sun STP1030 | 143–167 | V9 | 1995 | 1×1=1 | 0.47 | 5.2 | 315 | 521 | 30[3] | 3.3 | 16 | 16 | 512-1024 | none | |
| UltraSPARC (Hornet) | Sun STP1030 | 200 | V9 | 1998 | 1×1=1 | 0.42 | 5.2 | 265 | 521 | -- | 3.3 | 16 | 16 | 512-1024 | none | |
| hyperSPARC (Colorado 4) | Ross RT620D | 180–200 | V8 | 1996 | 1×1=1 | 0.35 | 1.7 | -- | -- | -- | 3.3 | 16 | 16 | 512 | none | |
| SPARC64 | Fujitsu (HAL) | 101–118 | V9 | 1995 | 1×1=1 | 0.4 | -- | 297+163+142 | 286 | 50 | 3.8 | 128 | 128 | -- | -- | |
| SPARC64 II | Fujitsu (HAL) | 141–161 | V9 | 1996 | 1×1=1 | 0.35 | -- | 202+103+84 | 286 | 64 | 3.3 | 128 | 128 | -- | -- | |
| SPARC64 III | Fujitsu (HAL) MBCS70301 | 250–330 | V9 | 1998 | 1×1=1 | 0.24 | 17.6 | 240 | -- | -- | 2.5 | 64 | 64 | 8192 | -- | |
| UltraSPARC IIs (Blackbird) | Sun STP1031 | 250–400 | V9 | 1997 | 1×1=1 | 0.35 | 5.4 | 149 | 521 | 25[4] | 2.5 | 16 | 16 | 1024 or 4096 | none | |
| UltraSPARC IIs (Sapphire-Black) | Sun STP1032 / STP1034 | 360–480 | V9 | 1999 | 1×1=1 | 0.25 | 5.4 | 126 | 521 | 21[5] | 1.9 | 16 | 16 | 1024–8192 | none | |
| UltraSPARC IIi (Sabre) | Sun SME1040 | 270–360 | V9 | 1997 | 1×1=1 | 0.35 | 5.4 | 156 | 587 | 21 | 1.9 | 16 | 16 | 256–2048 | none | |
| UltraSPARC IIi (Sapphire-Red) | Sun SME1430 | 333–480 | V9 | 1998 | 1×1=1 | 0.25 | 5.4 | -- | 587 | 21[6] | 1.9 | 16 | 16 | 2048 | none | |
| UltraSPARC IIe (Hummingbird) | Sun SME1701 | 400–500 | V9 | 2000 | 1×1=1 | 0.18 Al | -- | -- | 370 | 13[7] | 1.5-1.7 | 16 | 16 | 256 | none | |
| UltraSPARC IIi (IIe+) (Phantom) | -- | 550–650 | V9 | 2002 | 1×1=1 | 0.18 Cu | -- | -- | 370 | 17.6 | 1.7 | 16 | 16 | 512 | none | |
| SPARC64 GP | Fujitsu SFCB81147 | 400–810 | V9 | 2000 | 1×1=1 | 0.18 | 30.2 | 217 | -- | -- | 1.8 | 128 | 128 | 8192 | -- | |
| SPARC64 IV | Fujitsu MBCS80523 | 450–810 | V9 | 2000 | 1×1=1 | 0.13 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 128 | 128 | 2048 | -- | |
| UltraSPARC III (Cheetah) | Sun SME1050 | 600 | V9 | 2001 | 1×1=1 | 0.18 Al | 29 | 330 | 1368 | 53 | 1.6 | 64 | 32 | 8192 | none | |
| UltraSPARC III (Cheetah) | Sun SME1052 | 750–900 | V9 | 2001 | 1×1=1 | 0.13 Al | 29 | -- | 1368 | -- | 1.6 | 64 | 32 | 8192 | none | |
| UltraSPARC III Cu (Cheetah+) | Sun SME1056 | 1002–1200 | V9 | 2001 | 1×1=1 | 0.13 Cu | 29 | 232 | 1368 | 80[8] | 1.6 | 64 | 32 | 8192 | none | |
| UltraSPARC IIIi (Jalapeno) | Sun SME1603 | 1064–1593 | V9 | 2003 | 1×1=1 | 0.13 | 87.5 | 206 | 959 | 52 | 1.3 | 64 | 32 | 1024 | none | |
| SPARC64 V (Zeus) | Fujitsu | 1100–1350 | V9/JPS1 | 2003 | 1×1=1 | 0.13 | 190 | 289 | 269 | 40 | 1.2 | 128 | 128 | 2048 | -- | |
| SPARC64 V+ (Olympus-B) | Fujitsu | 1650–2160 | V9/JPS1 | 2004 | 1×1=1 | 0.09 | 400 | 297 | 279 | 65 | 1 | 128 | 128 | 4096 | -- | |
| UltraSPARC IV (Jaguar) | Sun SME1167 | 1050–1350 | V9 | 2004 | 1×2=2 | 0.13 | 66 | 356 | 1368 | 108 | 1.35 | 64 | 32 | 16384 | none | |
| UltraSPARC IV+ (Panther) | Sun SME1167A | 1500–2100 | V9 | 2005 | 1×2=2 | 0.09 | 295 | 336 | 1368 | 90 | 1.1 | 64 | 64 | 2048 | 32768 | |
| UltraSPARC T1 (Niagara) | Sun SME1905 | 1000–1400 | V9 / UA 2005 | 2005 | 4×8=32 | 0.09 | 300 | 340 | 1933 | 72 | 1.3 | 8 | 16 | 3072 | none | |
| SPARC64 VI (Olympus-C) | Fujitsu | 2150–2400 | V9/JPS2 | 2007 | 2×2=4 | 0.09 | 540 | 422 | -- | 120 | -- | 128 | 128 | 5120 | none | |
| UltraSPARC T2 (Niagara 2) | Sun SME1908A | 1000–1400 | V9 / UA 2007 | 2007 | 8×8=64 | 0.065 | 503 | 342 | 1831 | 95 | 1.1–1.5 | 8 | 16 | 4096 | none | |
| UltraSPARC T2 Plus (Victoria Falls) | Sun SME1910A | 1200–1400 | V9 / UA 2007 | 2008 | 8×8=64 | 0.065 | 503 | 342 | 1831 | - | - | 8 | 16 | 4096 | none | |
| SPARC64 VII (Jupiter) [9] | Fujitsu | 2400–2520 | V9/JPS2(?) | 2008 | 2×4=8 | 0.065 | 600 | 445 | -- | 135 | -- | 64 | 64 | 6144 | none | |
| UltraSPARC RK (Rock)[10] | Sun SME1832 | 2300 | V9 / UA__?__ | 2009 | 2×16=32 | 0.065 | ? | 396 | 2326 | ? | ? | 32 | 32 + 8 predecoded bits | 2048 | ? | |
| SPARC64 VIII (Venus)[11] | ? | ? | V9 | TBA | 8 cores | 0.045 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | |
| Name (codename) | Model | Frequency (MHz) | Arch. version | Year | Total threads[1] | Process (µm) | Transistors (millions) | Die size (mm²) | IO Pins | Power (W) | Voltage (V) | L1 Dcache (k) | L1 Icache (k) | L2 Cache (k) | L3 Cache (k) | |
[edit] Operating system support
SPARC machines have generally used Sun's SunOS or Solaris Operating Systems, but other operating systems such as NEXTSTEP, RTEMS, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, and Linux are also used on SPARC-based systems.
In 1993, Intergraph announced a port of Windows NT to the SPARC architecture,[12] but it was later cancelled.
[edit] Open source implementations
Three fully open source implementations of the SPARC architecture exist.
- LEON, a 32-bit, single-thread SPARC Version 8 implementation, designed especially for outer space uses. Source code is written in VHDL, and licensed under the GPL.
- OpenSPARC T1, released in 2006, a 64-bit, 32-thread implementation conforming to the UltraSPARC Architecture 2005 and to SPARC Version 9 (Level 1). Source code is written in Verilog, and licensed under many licenses. Most OpenSPARC T1 source code is licensed under the GPL. Source based on existent open source projects will continue to be licensed under their current licenses. Binary programs are licensed under a binary Software License Agreement.
- OpenSPARC T2, released in 2008, a 64-bit, 64-thread implementation conforming to the UltraSPARC Architecture 2007 and to SPARC Version 9 (Level 1). Source code is written in Verilog, and licensed under many licenses. Most OpenSPARC T2 source code is licensed under the GPL. Source based on existent open source projects will continue to be licensed under their current licenses. Binary programs are licensed under a binary Software License Agreement.
[edit] Supercomputers
As of November 2007, only one of the world's top 500 fastest supercomputers is based on SPARC64 processors:
- Rank #392: Nagoya University Japan, PRIMEPOWER HPC2500 (1664 2.08 GHz processors), Fujitsu, 6860 GFLOPS
This list compares unfavorably with other processor architectures, which make up a much larger portion of the top 500 list. The SPARC processor family had 88 of the top 500 systems in June 2002, but has since lost popularity to faster chips from IBM, Intel, and AMD.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Threads per core × number of cores
- ^ Various SPARC V7 implementations were produced by Fujitsu, LSI Logic, Weitek, Texas Instruments and Cypress. A SPARC V7 processor generally consisted of several discrete chips, usually comprising an Integer Unit (IU), a Floating-Point Unit (FPU), a Memory Management Unit (MMU) and cache memory.
- ^ @167 MHz
- ^ @250 MHz
- ^ @400 MHz
- ^ @440 MHz
- ^ max@500 MHz
- ^ @900 MHz
- ^ "FX1 Key Features & Specifications". Fujitsu. 2008-02-19. http://www.fujitsu.com/downloads/PR/2008/20080219-01a.pdf.
- ^ "A Third-Generation 65nm 16-Core 32-Thread Plus 32-Scout-Thread CMT SPARC(R) Processor". Sun Microsystems. 2008-02-19. http://www.opensparc.net/pubs/preszo/08/RockISSCC08.pdf.
- ^ "Fujitsu shows off SPARC64 VII". (28 August 2008). heise online.
- ^ "Intergraph Announces Port of Windows NT to SPARC Architecture". The Florida SunFlash. 1993-07-07. http://ftp.lanet.lv/ftp/sun-info/sunflash/1993/Jul/55.11-Sun-Intergraph:-SPARC-and-Windows-NT.
[edit] See also
- UltraSPARC T1 – Sun's first multicore and multithread CPU (code-named "Niagara")
- UltraSPARC T2 – The successor to T1
- OpenSPARC – an open source project based on the UltraSPARC T1 design
- ERC32 – based on SPARC V7 specification
- Rock processor – The follow on multi-processor version of T1, expected in 2009
- Ross Technology, Inc. – SPARC designer/manufacturer of the 1980s and 1990s
- Sparcle – modified SPARC with multiprocessing support used by the MIT Alewife project
[edit] External links
- SPARC International, Inc.
- SPARC International list of SPARC processors
- SPARC International Technical Documents
- UltraSPARC Architecture specification - a SPARC architecture specification extended with CMT, hyperprivileged mode, VIS 1, VIS 2, and so forth
- UltraSPARC Processors
- SPARC processor images and descriptions
- The Rough Guide to MBus Modules (SuperSPARC, hyperSPARC)
- SPARC at the Open Directory Project
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