Heterogeneous System Architecture

Chapter 5

HSA Memory Model

L. Howes*; D. Hower^†; B.R. Gaster^‡    * Qualcomm, Santa Clara, CA, USA^† Qualcomm, Raleigh-Durham, NC, USA^‡ University of the West of England, Bristol, UK

Abstract

In this chapter, we show how to correctly use key Heterogeneous System Architecture (HSA) memory features, including atomic memory operations, memory segments, and memory scopes. A primary focus of the chapter, and the HSA memory model in general, is to develop an understanding of memory ordering, or how loads and stores from concurrently running HSA agents interleave with one another. We show how to use synchronization in an HSA program, such that it will always result in a simple, program-ordered interleaving known as a sequentially consistent execution. ...