Compute bottlenecks on the new 64-bit ARM

Abstract

The trifecta of power, performance and programmability has spurred significant interest in the 64-bit ARMv8 platform. These new systems provide energy efficiency, a traditional CPU programming model, and the potential of high performance when enough cores are thrown at the problem. However, it remains unclear how well the ARM architecture will work as a design point for the High Performance Computing market. In this paper, we characterize and investigate the key architectural factors that impact power and performance on a current ARMv8 offering (X-Gene 1) and Intel's Sandy Bridge processor. Using Principal Component Analysis, multiple linear regression models, and variable importance analysis we conclude that the CPU frontend has the biggest impact on performance on both the X-Gene and Sandy Bridge processors.