Re: Smaller embedded version of the Vector extension


Bruce Hoult
 

Note that the effective LMUL is limited to 8, the same as the actual LMUL, so if you've set e32m4 (32 bit elements with LMUL=4) then you can only widen to 64 bit results, not 128 bit. 

On Wed, Jun 2, 2021 at 11:15 PM Bruce Hoult <bruce@...> wrote:
Yes. The Standard Element Width (SEW) would be limited to 32 bits, but the widening multiplies and accumulates produce the same number of wider results using multiple registers (higher effective LMUL)

See section 5.2. Vector Operands

Each vector operand has an effective element width (EEW) and an effective LMUL (EMUL) that is used to determine the size and location of all the elements within a vector register group. By default, for most operands of most instructions, EEW=SEW and EMUL=LMUL.

Some vector instructions have source and destination vector operands with the same number of elements but different widths, so that EEW and EMUL differ from SEW and LMUL respectively but EEW/EMUL = SEW/LMUL. For example, most widening arithmetic instructions have a source group with EEW=SEW and EMUL=LMUL but destination group with EEW=2*SEW and EMUL=2*LMUL. Narrowing instructions have a source operand that has EEW=2*SEW and EMUL=2*LMUL but destination where EEW=SEW and EMUL=LMUL.

Vector operands or results may occupy one or more vector registers depending on EMUL, but are always specified using the lowest-numbered vector register in the group. Using other than the lowest-numbered vector register to specify a vector register group is a reserved encoding.



On Wed, Jun 2, 2021 at 11:11 PM Tony Cole <tony.cole@...> wrote:

Having 32x 32 bit registers with LMUL=4, giving 8x 128 bits - does this allow for 64-bit elements?

I don't think it does, but it’s not clear in the spec.

 

I use 64-bit elements for “wide” and “quad” accumulators.

 

 

From: tech-vector-ext@... [mailto:tech-vector-ext@...] On Behalf Of Bruce Hoult
Sent: 02 June 2021 11:19
To: Tariq Kurd <tariq.kurd@...>
Cc: tech-vector-ext@...; Shaofei (B) <shaofei1@...>
Subject: Re: [RISC-V] [tech-vector-ext] Smaller embedded version of the Vector extension

 

There is nothing to prevent implementing 32x 32 bit registers on a 32 bit CPU. The application processor spec has quite

recently (a few months) specified a 128 bit minimum register size but I don't think there's any good reason for this,

especially in embedded.

 

With that configuration, LMUL=4 gives 8x 128 bits, the same as MVE.

 

If floating point is desired then Zfinx is available, sharing int & fp scalar registers instead of fp and vector registers.

 

Of course profiles (or just custom chips for custom applications) can define subsets of instructions.

 

On Wed, Jun 2, 2021 at 10:05 PM Tariq Kurd via lists.riscv.org <tariq.kurd=huawei.com@...> wrote:

Hi everyone,

 

Are there any plans for a cut-down configuration of the vector extension suitable for embedded cores? It seems that the 32x128-bit register file is suitable for application class cores but it very large for embedded cores, especially if the F registers also need to be implemented (which I think is the case, unless a Zfinx version is specified).

 

ARM MVE only has 8x128-bit registers for FP and Vector, so it much more suitable for embedded applications.

https://en.wikichip.org/wiki/arm/helium

 

What’s the approach here? Should embedded applications implement the P-extension instead?

 

Tariq

 

Tariq Kurd

Processor Design I RISC-V Cores, Bristol

E-mail: Tariq.Kurd@...

Company: Huawei technologies R&D (UK) Ltd I Address: 290 Park Avenue, Aztec West, Almondsbury, Bristol, Avon, BS32 4TR, UK      

 

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