Performance modeling and evaluation of topologies for low-latency SCI systems

This paper presents an analytical performance characterization and topology comparison from a latency perspective for the scalable coherent interface (SCI). Experimental methods are used to determine constituent latency compo nents and verify the results obtained by these analytical models as close a pproximations of reality. In contrast with simulative models, analytical SC I models are faster to solve, yielding accurate performance estimates very quickly, and thereby broadening the design space that can be explored. Ulti mately, the results obtained here serve to identify optimum topology types for a range of system sizes based on the latency performance of common para llel application demands. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science BN. All rights reserved .