Published and projected benchmark numbers do not necessarily help predict the behavior of a user application on a particular microprocessor system. The real test comes when a user application is executed and timed on the microprocessor5, which usually stresses the system in a different fashion than most benchmarks do. Unfortunately, the lack of stable platforms in earlier stages of system design prevents a developer from performing such evaluation tasks. This paper illustrates how application developers looking for a head start can use the Motorola Timing Simulator for the PowerPC 603™ microprocessor to analyze the expected behavior of a user program for various memory subsystems and gather fairly accurate timing information. A study of some SPEC™ benchmarks is also done in this respect.
/lp/association-for-computing-machinery/performance-modeling-using-the-motorola-powerpc-timing-simulator-TJCDCZRgVN