An accurate architectural simulator for ARM1136

Abstract

Cycle-accurate simulators are basic tools to evaluate performance improvements of computer architecture. Before confirming of the architecture improvements using cycle-accurate simulation, the simulator itself should be validated. However, off-the-shelf processors have been continuously improved, though the cycle-accurate simulators were not reflected the improved features. Simulation results show that the difference between the IPC (Instruction Per Cycle) of the modified model for ARM1136 (Sim-ARM1136) and the IPC of the original model for ARM7 (Sim-Outorder) is 19%, on average, which is large enough to mislead the impact of architecture improvements. © IFIP International Federation for Information Processing 2005.