The present invention provides a system and method for improving the performance of general-purpose processors by implementing a functional unit that computes the product of a matrix operand with a vector operand, producing a vector result. Corresponding systems are also described. Material bridges connect the bristles to one another and they break up upon being wetted before said bristles disintegrate. Thus the low voltage power supply module that otherwise should have extra power and greater watts may be shrunk and power supply efficiency may increase. In one embodiment, the module includes a pipe with caps having the inlet and one-way flow control device. One apparatus embodiment includes a unit to enable an ROB to selectively disable a lock upon Identifying a lock acquire operation associated with a critical section entry point, a unit to selectively retire the LAO, a unit to cause the ROB to selectively disable the lock, and a unit to snoop a buffer.