mlcache: a flexible multi-lateral cache simulator

Abstract

As the gap between processor and memory speeds increases, cache performance becomes more critical to overall system performance. Multi-lateral cache designs such as the Assist, Victim, and NTS cache have been shown to perform as well as or better than larger, single structure caches. Unlike current cache simulators, mlcache (an event-driven, timing-sensitive simulator based on the Latency Effects cache timing model) can evaluate a variety of multilateral cache configurations. It was developed to help designers in the middle of the design cycle decide which cache configuration would best meet the performance needs of the target processor. It can easily model various cache configurations by using its library of cache state and data movement routines. We use the SPEC95 benchmarks to illustrate how mlcache can be used to compare the performance of several different data cache configurations.