Re: [RFC PATCH] x86/cpufeatures: Enumerate new AVX512 bfloat16 instructions

From: Borislav Petkov
Date: Mon Jun 10 2019 - 15:25:00 EST


On Mon, Jun 10, 2019 at 10:02:38AM -0700, Fenghua Yu wrote:
> AVX512 Vector Neural Network Instructions (VNNI) in Intel Deep Learning
> Boost support bfloat16 format (BF16). BF16 is a short version of FP32 and
> has several advantages over FP16. BF16 offers more than enough range for
> deep learning training tasks and doesn't need to handle hardware exception
> as this is a performance optimization. FP32 accumulation after the
> multiply is essential to achieve sufficient numerical behavior on an
> application level.
>
> AVX512 bfloat16 instructions can be enumerated by:
> CPUID.(EAX=7,ECX=1):EAX[bit 5] AVX512_BF16
>
> Detailed information of the CPUID bit and AVX512 bfloat16 instructions
> can be found in the latest Intel Architecture Instruction Set Extensions
> and Future Features Programming Reference.
>
> Signed-off-by: Fenghua Yu <fenghua.yu@xxxxxxxxx>
> ---
>
> Since split lock feature (to-be-upstreamed) occupies the last bit
> of word 7, need to create a new word 19 to host AVX512_BF16 and other
> future features.

Is CPUID.(EAX=7,ECX=1):EAX going to contain only feature bits? If so,
just make it a proper feature word instead of a linux-specific one.

Also, while on the subject, you can recycle word 11

/* Intel-defined CPU QoS Sub-leaf, CPUID level 0x0000000F:0 (EDX), word 11 */
#define X86_FEATURE_CQM_LLC (11*32+ 1) /* LLC QoS if 1 */

and move it to scattered as it is a complete waste. Word 12 too, for
that matter. But do that in separate patches.

Thx.

--
Regards/Gruss,
Boris.

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