The Efficient Modeling of Processor Behavior and Performance

Simulation models of digital computers span a broad range of capabilities. At one end are drastically simplified models that are very efficient. At the other end are executable register transfer models with a typical simulation overhead of two or three orders of magnitude. The Simon Simulation and Development System requires a highly efficient and executable performance simulation model. These requirements are met by a new simulation methodology, direct execution simulation.; The thesis describes computer performance models in general and direct execution models in particular. The direct execution one methodology has been used to implement a simulation model for the Motorola MC68020 microprocessor. Details of the implementation are presented along with some results concerning the efficiency and accuracy of the technique.