BEE3: Revitalizing Computer Architecture Research

In recent years, advances in computer architecture have slowed dramatically with most simulation results demonstrating only incremental architectural innovation. This is further exacerbated by increased processor and system complexity spurred by a seemingly unlimited number of transistors at computer architect’s disposal. Computer architects produce a myopic view of their systems through the lens of slow, highly-detailed software simulation or fast, coarse-grained software simulation, with fidelity always in question.

By leveraging silicon technology scaling in Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), hardware can be used to accelerate simulation, emulation, or prototyping of systems. Furthermore, because the base components are reconfigurable, the same system can be used for a variety of research projects, amortizing the cost, both in dollars and in learning time. In this paper, we present the third generation of the Berkeley Emulation Engine or BEE3 system. We demonstrate a new collaboration methodology between academia and industry and compare the industrial and academic system design process. The BEE3 is a production multi-FPGA system with up to 64 GB of DRAM and several I/O subsystems that can be used to enable faster, larger and higher fidelity computer architecture or other systems research. Using a widely available hardware platform also facilitates a software community that can generate and share software modules, thereby enabling rapid system development for computer architecture research.