Superscalar Processor Architecture

Nehalem Architecture

Recently, I am studying the Superscalar architecture for one of my course, Advance Computer Architecture. This architecture employs instruction level parallelism (ILP) which is implemented in a single processor. This architecture is widely used in current processor, for instance 64-bit itanium processor, Core i7 (using Nehalem Architecture), AMD 64-bit cores, etc. The first impression when I studied this architecture is that this processor is really complex, more than I expected. My studies about pipeline architecture and DSP processor is definitely only small piece of all topics related to computer architecture, which make me more challenged to learn it.

Instruction-level-parallelism is a method to execute multiple instruction simultaneously in a parallel scheme. To implement this into processor, parallel multiple executable unit (ALU, multiplier, etc) should be added. This addition definitely would bring a lot of hazard in the processor, for instance data hazard and control hazard. This is happens since there are dependences between instruction and between register in parallel architecture.

To solve the hazard, a lot of schemes are developed. These are scheduling, speculation, and branch/jump prediction. Scheduling is used to manipulate the flow of the instruction and do the renaming register so executable unit is efficiently used and the data dependence is solved. Speculation is used to fight the control hazard caused by branch/jump. Branch/jump prediction is used to reduce the penalty cost caused by branch instruction.

All of the schemes are not simple. A lot of research are done to produce the robust algorithm and architecture to solve these problems. It impress me since the methodology used in this architecture could bring outstanding performance in the processor which I never imagine before. From this course, my interest in processor grows. I could learn advance implementation of processor and enhance my knowledge in this area. In the next course, I will study the Itanium processor, which is an architecture for 64-bits Intel processor, and will work on the parallel processor using system C. I am looking forward to work on it. Wish all the best.

Hallo Bandoeng

A beautiful song that really remind me of my city, Bandung. It is the place I spent my childhood, attended high school, learnt the meaning of life, struggled for my dreams and met all of my friends. It’ll always be the place I put my nice and beautiful memories, I’ll always miss Bandung. Take care there.

This song is about an old lady in the Netherlands who speaks over the phone to her son in Bandung, and hears the voice of her grandchild for the first time. The song is from 1929, shortly after the first telephone connection between Europe and the East Indies/ Indonesia had been established.

Eastern and Western Strategy in Technology

Last Saturday, I had an opportunity to discuss about the current model of company in both east and west. It is started when we knew that 2 of the biggest companies in Europe will fire most of their employees due to its decreasing revenue. Some people said that it is because of the economic crisis faced by Europe and the emerging of the technology company in Asia. It could make a conclusion that the western companies loss its touch so it could not catch up the significant rising of the eastern company’s business and technology. We were questioning whether it is really the reason or not and a little discussion is made.

As we knows, in the early stage of the electronics industry, companies from Europe and US began to start their investment and research on these area. They tried to develop a robust electronics devices such as communication technologies, digital computing electronics (processor), and instrumentation. They also designed the IC technology that allow the growth of IC development satisfies the moore’s law, which mentions that the performances of IC would be twice each year. They are really working on the quality and put the knowledge and innovation as driven.

Started by Japan, the industry of Asia grown significantly since the end of the World War II.  Japan and the other Asia country drew ambitious plan to meet the task of industrialization and modernization. They found an opportunities in one of the emerging technologies in that era, electronics.

Although working on the same fields, most of Asia companies put themselves in different perspective, which fortunately brought them to their position now as one of the leader market in the world. They realized that the electronics those day were very expensive for the customer. They put it as a company opportunities to provide low cost electronics for them. It is adapted in companies like Samsung, Toshiba, and Huawei. This method is also used to conquer the automotive industry nowadays.

So, does it mean that the western companies will lose the markets? In my opinion, no. They both have different market. Although for some electronics product it seems that now Asia conquer the market, the western company also adapt. They know that the low-cost strategy is very useful for it, but they also don’t want to lose their “robust” strategy. They keep enhancing their product toward robustness and innovation, for example Apple, Microsoft, and Rohde-Schwarz. They produce product with the quality that is hardly to imitate. Some of the company also changing their focus when the previous technology is already mature, for example Philips who diverse their focus from lighting to biomedical equipment. Those product has to be strong and accurate, and it is the western company competences and is hard for eastern company to catch up.

For a conclusion, although the eastern company nowadays seems to take over the market of electronics in the perspective of the customer, the western company still plays their important role in this area of technology. The western company put the robustness and innovation as the main focus of their company and the eastern company put mass product and low cost strategy. Both are very challenging and both are working to improve the quality of life. Without both of them, we could not have technology like we have nowadays.

“The complexity for minimum component costs has increased at a rate of roughly a factor of two per year. I believe that such a large circuit can be built on a single wafer.”
Gordon Moore

Two Words

A beautiful song I listen tonight. It makes me remember about the love that I receive, the love that is flowing everytime, everywhere. Love that make us strong and believe that everyday will be beautiful.

Thank you very much for all.

In a while, in a word,
Every moment now returns.
For a while, seen or heard,
How each memory softly burns.
Facing you who brings me new tomorrows,
I thank God for yesterdays,
How they led me to this very hour,
How they led me to this place…

Every touch, every smile,
You have given me in care.
Keep in heart, always I’ll,
Now be treasuring everywhere.
And if life should come to just one question,
Do I hold this moment true?
No trace of sadness,
Always with gladness…
‘I DO…’

(instrumental)

Now a song that speaks of now and ever,
Beckons me to someone new,
Unexpected, unexplored, unseen,
Filled with promise coming through.
In a while, in a word,
You and I forever change,
Love so clear, never blurred,
Has me feeling wondrous, strange,
And if life should come to just one question,
Do I face each moment true?
No trace of sadness, always with gladness,
‘I DO…’

Never with sadness…
Always with gladness…
‘I…DO….’

-Lea Salonga-

Music Prodigies and Commitment

Prodigy is a term that is used to mentioning young people who have talents and passion in high level of content and success. In this video, 5 young musicians collaborated to perform a great concert of Music Prodigies of the World. They are Simone Porter, Nathan Chan, Julia Abueva, Shuan Hern Lee, and Michael Province.

In my opinion, their performance here is fascinating. It shows their hard-work and passion in music and it always inspire me. Having a background in musics and orchestra, I really know that they put a lot of effort and practices to become a prodigies. Prodigies is not something that you are born with. Prodigies is about time commitment, contribution, and devotion.

One point that I get from here is, being ‘gifted’ should not be separated from hard-work. No one can achieve a great work if they are not prepared. It is not only about the music, but it can be anything, something that we are currently working on. We should not be ashamed about our works, we should proud of it, because it is something that could be given from us, to others.

My studies here is devoted to bring a solution for people, through technology. For me, it is really a good opportunity that I should not waste, to meet new people, to enhance the experiences of my field, and to get a chance to contribute in the advancement of the technology. I should be more committed for my work to achieve more . Life will never stop giving you miracle. Stay strong, stay motivated, stay inspiring.

 

First Examination

These two weeks are my first examination week on TU Eindhoven as a master student. Since I never did my examination abroad, I was being really excited to know about this system. I am curious about how people from Europe, particularly in The Netherlands, prepare and do the examination.

For the procedure of examination, more or less it is similar with examination in Indonesia. Both have essay problems, although one of my course use multiple choice question, and the duration is 3 hours.

In TU Eindhoven, we get 3 chances to follow the examination. If someone fail the exam, he doesn’t have to do the courses again, he can try it again in the next period. It is also possible to increase the mark if he doesn’t satisfy with the previous one.

I found that it is a good system that allow us to study and improve our performances. One of my friend said that examination for students here is like a research. We don’t always succeed during the first try, but we will always be better if we study hard. There was no outstanding innovation without failure, so we should not suppose to be afraid with failure. Improvement is the real result, not the examination.

Their way of thinking about the education motivate me to do more. I realize that I study here not only to get the degree, but also to get the knowledges and skills more about specific field, to find the solutions for technical problem of human’s need. I hope I could become the engineer, scientist, or lecturer that can implement what I studied here as a solution for the future.

1 more examination next week. Let’s go studying.

Where Good Ideas Come From

A nice explanation about where ideas and innovations come from. This video is brought by Steven Berlin Johnson, a dynamic popular science writer and speaker of United States. He is the best-selling author of four books on the intersection of science, technology and personal experience, including the Where Good Ideas Come From.

If you are interested more in his articles or books, visit his website here and enjoy it.

“That is how innovation happens. Chance favours the connected minds.“
Steven Berlin Johnson