Evaluating the performance of multi-core processors - Part 1

Choosing and using the right benchmarks

By Max Domeika, Embedded.com
(09/15/09, 05:55:00 PM EDT)

Determining the specific multi-core processor that will suit your embedded application needs is a challenge. Relying upon the marketing collateral from a given company is not sufficient because in many cases, the results quoted are specific to a given platform and ambiguous application; there is no guarantee your application will exhibit the same performance.

Therefore, it is important to understand the strengths and weaknesses of common benchmark suites that are used to gauge single processor and multi-core processor performance. In addition, the increased focus on energy efficiency has led to the development of benchmark suites that gauge power performance; a description of these benchmark suites is included.

Finally, in Part 2, two practical examples of using benchmark results to estimate system and application behavior are discussed:

1) How to use benchmark data to characterize application performance on specific systems.

2) How to apply performance benchmark suites to assist in estimating performance of your application.

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