What is Gracemont Processor?

Intel's Gracemont processor architecture represents a significant leap forward in low-power computing. As the successor to Tremont, Gracemont leverages Intel's advanced 10nm manufacturing process to deliver impressive performance in a highly efficient package.

Key Features and Improvements

Gracemont introduces several enhancements over its predecessor:

1. Enhanced Front-End:

   • Doubled L1 instruction cache (64 KB per core, up from 32 KB)
   • Addition of On-Demand Instruction Length Decoder (OD-ILD)

2. Improved Back-End:

   • Larger Reorder Buffer (256 entries, up from 208)
   • 17-wide issue capability
   • Four ALU SIMD units (increased from three)

3. Advanced Memory and I/O Support:

   • DDR5 memory compatibility
   • PCIe 4.0 support for improved throughput

4. Expanded Instruction Set:

   • AVX2, AVX-VNNI, and other new instructions

Gracemont in Hybrid Designs

Gracemont cores play a crucial role in Intel's hybrid processor designs, serving as the efficient low-power cores in:

• 12th generation Alder Lake processors
• 13th generation Raptor Lake processors

This hybrid approach allows for optimal performance and power efficiency across various workloads.

Technical Specifications

• Release Date: November 4, 2021
• Architecture: 4th generation low-power, Out-of-Order Atom microarchitecture
• Clock Speeds: 700 MHz to 4 GHz
• Core Configuration: Up to four cores per module
• Thermal Design Power (TDP):
  • Desktop: 10 watts
  • Mobile: 6 watts

Advanced Features

1. Improved Execution:

   • Increased instruction issue (5 per clock, up from 4)
   • Higher instruction retire rate (8 per clock, up from 7)
   • 17 execution ports (increased from 8)

2. Enhanced Branch Prediction

3. System on a Chip (SoC) Design: Ideal for compact, low-power devices

4. 3D Tri-Gate Transistors: Boosting overall performance

Graphics Capabilities

Select Gracemont models feature an integrated Intel Xe Gen 12.2 GPU, supporting:

• DirectX 12
• OpenGL 4.6
• OpenGL ES 3.2
• OpenCL 3.0
• Vulkan 1.3

Advanced Pipeline

Gracemont's superscalar pipeline supports:

• Out of Order Execution (OoOE)
• Speculative execution
• Register renaming

Extensive Instruction Set Support

Gracemont processors are compatible with x86-64 ISA and numerous extensions, including:

• SSE variants (SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4.1, SSE4.2)
• AVX and AVX2
• AES-NI
• Intel SGX
• Intel TXT
• Virtualization extensions (VT-x, VT-d)

Memory Hierarchy

Gracemont features a robust cache structure:

• L1 Cache: 96 KB per core (64 KB instruction, 32 KB data)
• L2 Cache: 2-4 MB per four-core module
• L3 Cache: Up to 3 MB per module

Gracemont vs. Golden Cove

While both architectures are part of Intel's latest offerings, they serve different purposes:

1. Clock Speeds:

   • Gracemont: 700 MHz - 4 GHz
   • Golden Cove: 1 GHz - 5.5 GHz

2. Cache Sizes:

   • Gracemont L1: 96 KB (64 KB instruction, 32 KB data)
   • Golden Cove L1: 80 KB (32 KB instruction, 48 KB data)

3. Manufacturing Process:

   • Gracemont: 10nm
   • Golden Cove: Intel 7 technology node

4. Target Applications:

   • Gracemont: Low-power, efficient cores
   • Golden Cove: High-performance cores

Conclusion

Intel's Gracemont architecture represents a significant advancement in low-power processor design. By combining improved performance, enhanced efficiency, and support for cutting-edge technologies, Gracemont cores are well-positioned to power the next generation of compact and energy-efficient devices. Their role in Intel's hybrid processor designs further demonstrates the versatility and importance of this innovative architecture.