A chip multithreaded processor for network-facing workloads

Throughput computing is based on chip multithreading processor design technology. In CMT technology, maximizing the amount of work accomplished per unit of time or other relevant resource, rather than minimizing the time needed to complete a given task or set of tasks, defines performance. By CMT standards, the best processor accomplishes the most work per second of time, per watt of expended power, per square millimeter of die area, and so on (that is, it operates most efficiently). The processor described is a member of Sun's first generation of CMT processors designed to efficiently execute network-facing workloads. Network-facing systems primarily service network clients and are often grouped together under die label "Web servers". The processor's dual-thread execution capability, compact die size, and minimal power consumption combine to produce high throughput performance per watt, per transistor, and per square millimeter of die area. Given the short design cycle Sun needed to create the processor, the result is a compelling early proof of the value of throughput computing.