David A. Patterson

Definition

David A. Patterson is a prominent computer scientist known for his significant contributions to computer architecture, particularly in the development of RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) architecture and his work on advanced processor design. His research has been fundamental in shaping how modern processors are built, influencing various aspects of resource management, performance metrics, cache coherence protocols, and energy-efficient microarchitectures.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. David A. Patterson co-authored the influential textbook 'Computer Organization and Design', which is widely used in computer architecture courses around the world.
2. He was instrumental in the creation of the RISC architecture, which emphasizes a smaller set of simple instructions to improve performance and efficiency.
3. Patterson has contributed significantly to resource management techniques in superscalar processors, enabling better utilization of available hardware resources.
4. His work on cache coherence protocols has helped improve data consistency in multi-core systems, crucial for performance in parallel computing.
5. In addition to architecture, Patterson has focused on energy-efficient designs, making strides in developing microarchitectures that minimize power consumption without sacrificing speed.

Review Questions

• How did David A. Patterson's work influence the development of RISC architecture and its significance in modern computing?
  • David A. Patterson's contributions to RISC architecture emphasized the use of a limited instruction set that simplifies processor design while enhancing performance. This approach allowed for faster execution times by enabling more efficient pipelining and parallelism. His pioneering work laid the groundwork for subsequent advancements in computer architecture, influencing how processors are designed and built today.
• Discuss the impact of Patterson's research on cache coherence protocols and why these are critical for multi-core processors.
  • Patterson's research on cache coherence protocols was crucial for ensuring that multiple cores can operate effectively without conflicting data. By developing methods to maintain data consistency across different caches, his work allows processors to share resources efficiently while minimizing latency and maximizing throughput. This consistency is essential for achieving high performance in multi-core systems where data is frequently accessed by various processors.
• Evaluate the contributions of David A. Patterson to energy-efficient microarchitectures and their relevance in today's technology landscape.
  • David A. Patterson's contributions to energy-efficient microarchitectures have become increasingly relevant as the demand for powerful computing devices grows alongside concerns about energy consumption and sustainability. His focus on designing processors that balance performance with power efficiency addresses critical challenges faced by modern technology, especially with mobile devices and large data centers needing to reduce their energy footprint while maintaining high computational capabilities. This work not only enhances performance but also aligns with global efforts towards greener computing solutions.

Related terms

RISC Architecture: A type of computer architecture that utilizes a small set of instructions for efficient execution, allowing for faster performance and simpler hardware design.

Cache Coherence: The consistency of data stored in local caches of a shared resource, ensuring that changes in one cache are reflected across all caches in a multi-core processor.

Energy Efficiency: The goal of reducing energy consumption while maintaining performance, particularly important in modern microarchitecture design to address power constraints.