Fast cycle-accurate compile based simulator for reconfigurable processor

Narasinga Rao Miniskar, Raj Narayana Gadde, Young Chul Rams Cho, Sukjin Kim

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

Reconfigurable Processor (RP) provides great flexibility of hardware re-configurability through software solution for high-performance computing. RP is used as a DSP in Samsung DTV and Camera to run the Audio, Video codecs and image quality enhancement algorithms. RP runs in two modes: VLIW (Very Large Instruction Word) and CGRA (Coarse Grain Reconfigurable Array). To minimize the time-to-market of products, application developers of the RP require a fast and cycle-accurate profiling-enabled simulator to verify the functionality of applications and to optimize the hot-spots (performance critical codes). Further, fast simulation is necessary to verify the functionalities for certification of various standards of multimedia (DivX, Dolby, etc.). The state-of-the-art RP simulators are very slow running at 2 MIPS (Million instructions per second) in CGRA mode and 4 MIPS in VLIW mode, running on x86 host processor at 3.4 GHz. We propose FastSim, a fast compile based cycle-accurate simulator for RP, which yields simulation speed of 900 MIPS in CGRA mode and 1600 MIPS in VLIW mode with > 99.5% core cycle accuracy. Thus, FastSim enables ∼400x faster simulation when compared to existing RP simulators. FastSim in VLIW mode is 2x faster when compared to the state-of-the-art functional simulators, and 16x faster when compared to cycle-accurate simulators, of the VLIW and RISC processors in the industry. FastSim speed is also comparable to application running time on native x86. The faster simulation speed is achieved with the use of an innovative maximal static analysis in both VLIW and CGRA modes.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationIEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems
Subtitle of host publicationFrom Dreams to Innovation, ISCAS 2017 - Conference Proceedings
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)9781467368520
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 25 2017
Externally publishedYes
Event50th IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems, ISCAS 2017 - Baltimore, United States
Duration: May 28 2017May 31 2017

Publication series

NameProceedings - IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems
ISSN (Print)0271-4310

Conference

Conference50th IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems, ISCAS 2017
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityBaltimore
Period05/28/1705/31/17

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