This application has two modes of operation: the loop simulaiton mode and the loop guess mode. The first one allows you to design a bank of cache memories up to three levels and then run a loop simulation to see when and how it starts trashing. The loop guess mode works the other way around, it gives you the results of a loop test simulation over an unknown cache memory and asks you to try and figure out its parameters.
This mode is selected by default in the main screen as soon as the app is launched.
There is a separate set of configurations for each level of the cache. Use the sliders to choose the block size, total size, hit time and associativity for each level. The main memory access time can be configured in a separate slider.
On the bottom right you can enable and disable the L2 and L3 cache levels, as well as the max size of the test loop. The Use speculation option makes the test run faster by calculating the outcome, instead of simulating every access (I recommend to leave it set).
Finally, hitting the "Run Loop" button will trigger the simulation and prompt you with the results.
By choosing the second tab on the top you can enter the "Loop guess" mode. The controls will change slightly.
Here you can test your understanding of the loop performance test of a cache by deducting a cache bank parameters from the test results. Start by choosing int the bottom left the maximum level of the cache to simulate, then hit "New plot" button.
You will be prompted with a graphics similar to the one shown in the previous section, but with the difference that the parameters used to generate it are unknown to you.
Once you have deducted the parameters from the graphic, fill them by using the sliders and hit "Make guess". The box in the bottom right will inform you if your guess was correct or not.
If you want to know the answer right away, use the "Show answer" button. You can always hit the "Show plot" button to reopen the current test result.
