Method and apparatus for efficient memory setting

Abstract

Systems and techniques for efficient memory setting are described. Memory setting is a common operation used by computing systems (e.g., operating systems and hypervisors) to write specific values, such as all ones or all zeroes, to obscure the current memory values to a memory region. In one example, a processor core issues a data-less write request that identifies a target address range for setting to a set value (e.g., ones, zeroes, or a random combination thereof). The data-less write request generally does not include a data payload. Instead, the set value is determined based on an index value associated with a lookup table at the memory controller or memory system or based on the target address range. In this way, the described systems and techniques accelerate memory setting operations with minimal data movement to save energy.