Branch Prediction Simulator

Overview

This repo contains implementation which involves building a branch prediction simulator for evaluating different configurations of branch predictors. The simulator supports bimodal, gshare, and hybrid branch predictors.

Features

• Bimodal Predictor: Simulates a simple bimodal branch predictor using the program counter (PC) bits as an index.
• Gshare Predictor: Simulates a gshare branch predictor that combines PC bits with a global history register.
• Hybrid Predictor: Simulates a hybrid branch predictor that selects between bimodal and gshare predictions using a chooser table.

Inputs and Outputs

Input Trace File

• Contains a list of branch instructions in memory.
• Format: <hex branch PC> t|n
  • t: branch actually taken.
  • n: branch actually not taken.

Command-Line Arguments

1. Bimodal Predictor: sim bimodal <M2> <tracefile>
   • <M2>: Number of PC bits for the bimodal table index.
2. Gshare Predictor: sim gshare <M1> <N> <tracefile>
   • <M1>: Number of PC bits for the gshare table index.
   • <N>: Number of bits in the global history register.
3. Hybrid Predictor: sim hybrid <K> <M1> <N> <M2> <tracefile>
   • <K>: Number of PC bits for the chooser table index.
   • <M1> and <N>: Parameters for the gshare predictor.
   • <M2>: Parameter for the bimodal predictor.

Output

1. Simulator command configuration.
2. Number of predictions and mispredictions.
3. Misprediction rate.
4. Final state of the predictor tables.

Prerequisites

• Language: C++
• Build Tool: Makefile