Patent ID: 6470427
Filing Date: 2002-10-22
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method of operating a computer system, having at least one memory subsystem, comprising the steps of:selecting an action for a prefetch overflow control having multiple selectable actions including a retry selector to define a desired action to be taken when one or more new demand requests are detected at a time that all available prefetch queues associated with said memory subsystem are busy responsive to previous demand requests; receiving a new demand request for a value in said memory subsystem; responsive to said new demand request, determining that all available prefetch queues. associated with said memory subsystem are busy responsive to previous demand requests; and reacting to said new demand request in conformance with said selected action in said prefetch overflow control including, responsive to said determining step, issuing a retry in response to said demand request when said retry selector is in a selected state.