Prefetch optimizer tool for controlling hardware and software prefetching

摘要

An information handling system (IHS) includes: processor 105; memory 120, coupled to the processor, the memory being configured with a prefetch optimizer tool 300. Prefetch optimizer tool is for: receiving an instruction sequence of interest (SOI) including a instructions with respective software prefetch instructions in advance of particular load instructions; instructing a hardware prefetch mechanism 122 in the processor to one of a plurality of hardware prefetch depths to fetch instructions from the memory; disabling particular prefetch instructions in the instruction SOI; measuring execution times of the instruction SOI when the particular prefetch instructions are disabled, the measuring being conducted by the optimizer tool while the hardware prefetch mechanism is set to a particular prefetch depth; and changing the hardware prefetch depth of the hardware prefetch mechanism to another hardware prefetch depth and repeating the measuring of the execution times of the instruction SOI while disabling different particular fetch instructions in the instruction SOI.