METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONSERVING POWER BY THROTTLING INSTRUCTION FETCHING WHEN A PROCESSOR ENCOUNTERS LOW CONFIDENCE BRANCHES IN AN INFORMATION HANDLING SYSTEM

摘要

The information processing system every time the inaccuracy or lack of confidence in the branch prediction for the branch instruction stored in the branch instruction queue exceeds a threshold confidence level determined prior to the inaccuracy or error, and a processor for adjusting the instruction fetcher. In this way, if the processor is likely to predict the output of the branch instruction is invalid, the operation speed of the fetcher is reduced to conserve power. If the processor is likely to predict accurately the results of the branch instruction-fetch rate in the operation goes back to full speed again.