Energy Based Analysis of Cache Design

1
Energy Based Analysis of Cache Design

• Shamik Bandyopadhyay (bandyos_at_eecs) Chris R.
  Baker (crbaker_at_eecs)
• CS252 Spring 2005

2
Problem

• Much of results in computer architecture focus on
  performance
• Power is an increasing concern in todays designs
• Even greater concern in embedded systems domain
• Caches can be power hungry
• How do cache design decisions affect power or
  power x performance?
• Organization, replacement policies, etc.

3
Methodology

• Literature survey
• Simulator SimpleScalar/Wattch
• Benchmarks
• Which make sense?
• Start with broad analysis of power or power x
  performance
• Narrow focus to particular design characteristic
• Ex replacement policy
• Detailed simulation and analysis
• Modify SimpleScalar and/or Wattch power models

4
Hope to find

• Cache design characteristic which yields slightly
  less performance with much better power
  consumption
• Foundation to propose cache designs for energy
  constrained applications

5
Related Work

• Many studies on cache for performance
• SPEC2000 benchmark analysis for cache replacement
  policies
• Existing studies on cache design for power
• Most limited to organization or addition of
  exotic features

6
References

• D. Burger, T. Austin, The SimpleScalar Tool Set,
  Version 2.0.
• D. Brooks, et al., Wattch A Framework for
  Architectural-Level Power Analysis and
  Optimizations.
• H. Al-Zoubi, et al., Performance Evaluation of
  Cache Replacement Policies for the Spec CPU2000
  Benchmark Suite.
• C-L. Su, A. Despain, Cache Design Trade-offs for
  Power and Performance Optimization A Case Study.