Intel Haswell to introduce transactional memory

Transactional memory makes the creation of reliable multithreaded programs easier by using a system where complex operations can be performed at the same time and in isolation from each other. The system has been seen in database management but making a chip work using it is new.

Intel calls it Transactional Synchronisation Extensions(TSX). There is the Hardware Lock Elision (HLE) allows easy conversion of lock-based programs into transactional programs in a way that's backwards compatible with current processors. Then there is the Restricted Transactional Memory (RTM) is a more complete transactional memory implementation.