100 Hours

Software & Tools

ARC® xCAM Modeller

Extends Model Cycle Accuracy to 100 Percent for ARC IP


ARC® xCAM products work with the ARChitect™ Processor Configurator to automatically provide 100% cycle accurate models that reflect SoC designers' specific hardware configurations of ARC IP. These models allow design verification and provide detailed performance analysis of critical routines before finalizing the hardware design. With the ARC xCAM tool, multiple models are generated to compare alternative approaches against specific code early in the design process, assisting in choosing optimal an configuration.

Content On This Page
| Highlights | ARChitect™ Integration | MetaWare Debugger Integration |


Highlights


100% Cycle-Accurate Models

Models are automatically available within minutes of finishing a configuration. Code can be tuned on actual processor configurations being considered, and hardware can be tested and verified. And, exact models match to CPU configuration so there is no risk of the model and RTL getting out of sync.

Unlimited Model Generation

Quickly and easily iterate and test unlimited combinations of code algorithms and processor configurations to find right code size/performance tradeoffs.

Highly Productive

The ARC xCAM tool is integrated with the MetaWare Development Toolkit for ease of use. Detailed cycle information is provided to guide assessments and profiling, or SystemC models can connect to wider co-development tool flows to help productivity. Users can run the same software on different models and determine which CPU configuration provides best software performance.

Versatile

The ARC xCAM tool is useful for algorithm optimization or module-level development. It can analyze “hot spots” in software - areas that might be candidates for optimization or custom instructions. And, the ARC xCAM tool can function in “CPU island” mode (C model) or as a part of an entire system (SystemC model).

Integrated Solution

Seamlessly integrated with the ARChitect Processor Configurator and MetaWare Debugger. The ARC xCAM tool also can perform cycle accurate simulation within the OSCI SystemC/CoWare environments.

Shortens Design Time

The ARC xCAM tool enable the early development of software, early verification of design, and fast hardware iterations.

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ARChitect™ Integration


xCAM installs within the ARChitect framework to generate cycle-accurate models. Once installed, the modelling component can be added to the processor design within ARChitect and options set. ARChitect then builds a 100% cycle-accurate model.

XCAM and ARChitect
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xCAM Models Track Your Configurations Automatically

Upon completion of the ARC IP configuration, ARChitect uses xCAM to add a step into the build process generating a cycle-accurate model that reflects the user's configuration automatically.

XCAM Models Track image
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MetaWare Debugger Integration


The xCAM models operate as a target within the MetaWare Debugger. Using xCAM’s 100% cycle accurate models are as simple as using an ISS, an ARCangel prototyping system or actual hardware.

XCAM in MetaWare Debugger
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  • At any time during the run, we can access the following profiling information:
    • Forward cycle counts
    • Backward cycle counts
    • Mispredicts
    • Instruction Counts
  • Profiling data can be viewed:
    • Per function – to determine function with the most cycle counts.
    • Per line of source or disassembly – to find candidates for custom instructions within a function.
    • Per count – ordered from highest to lowest counts across the entire application.

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