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kernbench2/docs/adr/ADR-0004-memory-semantics-local-hbm.md
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ywkang 5fdb6f8797 Latency model: HBM PC striping + chunk-loop drain (ADR-0033)
Previous model double-counted slow-upstream paths (e.g., 64KB via UCIe
128 GB/s was ~2x pessimistic). HBM CTRL now distributes bursts across
8 pseudo-channels via global round-robin, with per-chunk commit timing
that pipelines correctly against the bottleneck link's data arrival.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.7 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
2026-05-14 21:59:07 -07:00

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ADR-0004: Memory Semantics & Local-HBM Bandwidth Guarantee

Status

Accepted

Context

Accurately modeling PE↔HBM behavior is essential for kernel latency estimation. Each PE has a notion of “local HBM” that must guarantee full HBM bandwidth, independent of intervening on-die fabric bandwidth.

Decision

D1. Local HBM definition

  • Each PE is assigned a logically defined “local HBM” region.
  • Local HBM corresponds to the pseudo-channel subset directly attached to that PEs router in the NOC mesh (ADR-0019).
  • The path is: PE_DMA → local router → HBM_CTRL (switching overhead only, 0 mesh hops).
  • The mapping (HBM pseudo-channels → PE local regions) is derived from topology configuration.

D2. Local HBM bandwidth guarantee contract

  • Accesses from a PE to its local HBM MUST guarantee full effective HBM read/write bandwidth independent of intervening fabric bandwidth limits.
  • Effective HBM bandwidth = spec bandwidth x efficiency factor. The efficiency factor (configured via hbm_ctrl.attrs.efficiency, default 0.8) models real-world DRAM inefficiencies (refresh cycles, bank conflicts, page misses). For example: 256 GB/s spec x 0.8 = 204.8 GB/s effective.
  • The topology builder applies the efficiency factor to router-to-hbm edge bandwidth at graph construction time, so all downstream routing and latency computation uses the effective value.
  • This guarantee is modeled by:
    • a dedicated logical path and/or service model that enforces HBM BW at the PE-local-HBM interaction point,
    • while still incurring non-zero latency along explicitly modeled components.
  • HBM CTRL internal modeling (PC striping, cut-through, scheduling fidelity) is consolidated in ADR-0033 (Latency Model: Assumptions and Known Simplifications). The aggregate BW guarantee here remains the contract; ADR-0033 documents how the per-PC model realizes it and which scheduler effects are intentionally simplified.

D3. Remote PE HBM semantics (intra-cube)

  • A PE that accesses another PE's local HBM traverses the NOC:
    • PE_DMA → NOC → (fabric hops) → target PE's NOC port → HBM_CTRL
  • NOC bandwidth and hop count may limit remote HBM access relative to local access.

D4. Non-local HBM semantics (inter-cube / inter-SIP)

  • Accesses from a PE to HBM in a different cube or SIP MAY be limited by:
    • NOC bandwidth within the cube,
    • inter-cube UCIe links,
    • inter-SIP fabric (PCIe/UAL).
  • These paths MUST be explicit and traceable.

D5. Shared SRAM semantics

  • Each CUBE contains a shared SRAM accessible by all PEs in that CUBE.
  • Access path: PE_DMA → NOC → shared SRAM.
  • Shared SRAM bandwidth is limited by the NOC↔SRAM link bandwidth.
  • Shared SRAM is not part of the HBM address space; it is a separate memory domain.

Verification Notes

Tests should cover:

  • local-HBM case: BW matches HBM BW regardless of fabric BW parameter
  • remote PE HBM case: latency includes mesh hop traversal
  • non-local cases (inter-cube/inter-SIP): BW/latency respond to fabric/link parameters
  • shared SRAM case: access via NOC with correct BW
  • SPEC R2/R5
  • ADR-0002 (distance/order & explicit bypass)
  • ADR-0017 D7 (PE DMA data paths through NOC to HBM)