Intel Corporation

David R Gray

Mark A Gonzales

Linda J Rankin

Michael J Allen

Stephen Anthony Fischer

Richard D Pashley

Sudarshan Bala Cadambi

Joseph D Schutz

Charles H Lucas

Charles B Guy

Patrick P Gelsinger

Babak Sabi

David J Shield

Stephen F Sullivan

Gregory K Crain

Stuart T Hopkins

Gustav Laub, Iii

Gustay Laub, Iii

A computer architecture that includes a high speed, low pin bus that directly couples a microprocessor to the physical memory of the processor. Physical memory typically has a number of dynamic random access memory (DRAM) devices. The bus is a byte wide and has a data rate of approximately 500 Mbytes/sec. The high speed bus may be coupled with a conventional bus, so that conventional devices can communicate with the processor using existing bus protocols. The present invention includes a processor interface that allows the processor to communicate using the protocol of either bus. The interface also allows communication between devices on either bus. Also included is a system that incorporates cache memory on a high speed memory bus and a method for allowing I/O devices to be placed on both a conventional bus and the separate high speed bus.

Method and apparatus of bus interface for a processor

Method and apparatus for data and address transmission over a bus

CPU reads data from slow bus if I/O devices connected to fast bus do not

A CMOS microprocessor chip includes an on-chip single-poly EPROM that is process compatible with the CMOS process used to manufacture the microprocessor. The EPROM is used to store manufacturing and contract related data such as serial number, customer, and process related data such as wafer number test results, binning data, etc. This provides important information for quality and reliability control. The EPROM is also used to control selection of optional microprocessor features such as speed governing, pin-out and I/O bus interface configuration. A third use is for trimming of critical circuit elements and for cache redundancy fault control.

Microprocessor having single poly-silicon EPROM memory for programmably

A CMOS microprocessor chip includes an on-chip single-poly EPROM that is process-compatible with the CMOS process used to manufacture the microprocessor. The EPROM is used to store manufacturing and contract related data such as serial number, customer, and process related data such as wafer number test results, binning data, etc. This provides important information for quality and reliability control. The EPROM is also used to control selection of optional microprocessor features such as speed governing, pin-out and I/O bus interface configuration. A third use is for trimming of critical circuit elements and for cache redundancy fault control.

A distributed method for arbitrating access to a common bus in a multiple processor environment is described. This method provides for fairness where multiple processors are vying for access to a global memory. An apparatus for arbitrating access to a common bus in a multiple processor environment is also described. This apparatus provides for priority determination of each processor upon system reset and provides for fairness where multiple processors are vying for access to a global memory.

Distributed arbitration method and apparatus for a computer bus using

A method of transferring data in response to a read command in a computer system having a plurality of processors coupled to an address bus, a command bus and a data bus is described. A first processor generates and sends the read command to read a first data from a second processor. The second processor then determines with which one of (1) the first data and (2) a read response command and the first data it desires to respond to the read command. If the second processor determines to respond with the first data, then it acknowledges receipt of the read command and performs an ordered response in which the command and address buses are released and only the first data is later sent to the first processor via the data bus when available. If the second processor determines to respond with the read response command and the first data, then it acknowledges receipt of the read command and performs an out-of-order response in which the access of the command and address buses is first released and gained again by arbitration when the first data is determined to be available in the second processor. The second processor then gains the access of the data bus when the data bus is free of any data transaction. The read response command and its address and the first data are then issued to the first processor.

Multiprocessor computer system with data bus and ordered and

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Hillsboro, OR, United States of America

David R Gray