Performance Evaluation of Processor Design

Summary

Performance evaluation is one of many aspects of computer system design. Analytic models and simulation models each have their own merits as evaluation tools.

The present paper deals with software simulation of the hardware elements of a computer system; the performance evaluation of operating system and application software is not discussed here. This does not mean that the characteristics of the software are ignored; indeed, the “behaviour of the software has an important effect on the hardware performance and measurements on running systems constitute a major source of simulation input.

Section 1 of this paper presents a definition of levels of hardware design at which performance evaluation by software simulation has been proven feasible and useful.

Section 2 describes a programming technique which has succesfully been used, especially in simulation models which are developed in parallel with the design of the systems being simulated. This technique facilitates the model to be kept up-to-date with the hardware design.

The application of the technique is not restricted to simulation models; its principles can be used in the development of programs of any type.