Systems and methods for providing extended memory access in a parallel processor

Abstract

A parallel processor assigns data for use by one or more tasks to a shared memory or memories associated with a plurality of compute units. A scheduler or other controller within or otherwise associated with the parallel processor assigns threads or groups of threads, which utilize the assigned data, to compute units as appropriate. Compute units utilize two sets of instructions, one specifying upper bits and one specifying lower bits of a memory address, to specify memory addresses that are larger than a number of bits an individual instruction can specify in a memory address field. Mode setting commands determine when and how lower bits in a memory address field of an instruction will be combined with upper bits in a previous instruction, e.g., through concatenation.