Advanced Computer Architecture Chapter 7.13
How to connect
processors...
Tradeoffs:
close coupling to
minimise delays incurred when processors interact
separation to avoid
contention for shared resources
Result:
spectrum of
alternative approaches based on application requirements, cost, and packaging/integration
issues
Currently:
just possible to
integrate 2 full-scale CPUs on one chip together with large shared
L2 cache
common to link
multiple CPUs on same motherboard with shared bus connecting to
main memory
more aggressive
designs use richer interconnection network, perhaps with cache-to-cache
transfer capability