BFloat16 Optimization for RISC-V: Recent Research and Development

At 10xEngineers, we’re not just observers in the RISC-V revolution – we’re active contributors pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. We’re excited to share our recent research on BFloat16 (BF16) optimization, presented at the RISC-V Summit Europe 2024 in Munich.

Research Overview

Our team has been investigating the implementation of BFloat16 for RISC-V platforms, with a focus on balancing efficiency and precision for AI applications. The research explores potential optimizations for BF16 in the context of RISC-V custom extensions.

Key Aspects of the Research

1. BFloat16 Implementation: We’ve engineered a BF16 module featuring custom instructions for multiply-accumulate operations, conversions, and min-max functions – tailored specifically for RISC-V.
2. Optimization Techniques: Our research explored several potential optimizations:
   
   • Subnormal flushing
   • Single rounding mode
   • NaN propagation (only using default NAN)
   • Zero-skipping for sparse networks
3. Integration with RISC-V Core: We’ve successfully integrated our BF16 module with the CV32E40P core, demonstrating its real-world applicability and for testing and evaluation purposes.

Performance Evaluation

To assess the impact of the proposed optimizations, we conducted several tests:

• Significant Area Savings: Synthesis at 65nm showed substantial potential for reduced silicon footprint.
• Polybench Benchmark: Polybench benchmarks revealed minimal accuracy loss when we compared our BF16 implementation to IEEE-754 compliant FP32 implementation across various applications
• Neural Network Models: ResNet and Inception models were tested on CIFAR-10 using our reference model to compare accuracies across different precision formats.

Driving RISC-V Innovation

This research isn’t just an academic exercise – it’s a testament to our commitment to advancing the RISC-V ecosystem. As leaders in RISC-V services, including IP development, custom extensions, verification, and software development, we’re uniquely positioned to turn cutting-edge research into real-world solutions.

Explore Our Work

We believe in open collaboration and knowledge sharing. That’s why we’re making our research accessible to the RISC-V community:

• View our poster
• Read the extended abstract
• Dive into the code: Check out our GitHub repository for implementation details

Partner with 10xEngineers

Ready to push the boundaries of RISC-V innovation? Our team of experts is here to help you navigate the cutting edge of RISC-V technology. Whether you’re looking to optimize performance, develop custom extensions, or ensure rigorous verification, we have the expertise to drive your projects forward.

Contact us today to discuss how our research and services can accelerate your RISC-V initiatives.

Stay tuned for more groundbreaking research and innovations from 10xEngineers – your partner in RISC-V excellence.