1. A method of operating a processor comprising a plurality of functional units arranged in one or more cores, comprising: configuring the functional units to operate in one of two discrete operational modes, a first discrete operational mode being implemented with the functional units in a standard core configuration using a first datapath, and a second discrete mode being implemented with the functional units in a spatial array configuration using a second datapath, wherein each of the functional units is directly coupled to both the first datapath and the second datapath; receiving a block of operating instructions, the operating instructions including an indication of the operational mode to be utilized for the block; and dynamically reconfiguring the functional units at runtime to operate in one or the other discrete operational mode according to the received block of operating instructions wherein the functional units in the spatial array configuration are equal in number to the functional units in the standard core configuration.