Summary
This technical report discusses the concept of determinism as it relates to the Tensor Streaming Processor (TSP) architecture developed by Groq. It outlines how deterministic processing can lead to predictable and repeatable performance, which is critical in various applications such as financial services and autonomous driving. The report explains that with a deterministic architecture, execution times are known at compile time, eliminating performance variability. It details how Groq's hardware design avoids traditional control flows and reactive components, allowing for a simpler architecture that enhances efficiency. The document also highlights the benefits of deterministic execution, including ease of design and debugging, predictable quality of service, and optimized total cost of ownership. Use cases in government and industrial automation are presented to illustrate the practical applications of this technology. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of determinism in achieving consistent performance across workloads.
