Abstract
The Power7 is IBM's first eight-core processor, with each core capable of four-way simultaneous-multithreading operation. Its key architectural features include an advanced memory hierarchy with three levels of on-chip cache; embedded-DRAM devices used in the highest level of the cache; and a new memory interface. This balanced multicore design scales from 1 to 32 sockets in commercial and scientific environments. © 2006 IEEE.