Multiprocessing aspects of the PowerPC 601

The authors describe the multiprocessing capabilities of the PowerPC architecture and the first implementation of that architecture, the 601 microprocessor. The architected multiprocessing (MP) facilities of PowerPC are presented, and the 601 microarchitecture and system interface are discussed in the context of multiprocessing support. It is pointed out that the PowerPC architecture and the 601 seek to advance the state of the art for multiprocessing by providing a building block that addresses full MP functionality and MP performance in a way that has little risk for the system designer and with performance features heretofore unavailable in the microprocessor marketplace.<>