What are the best benchmarking tools for testing microcontroller performance?

1 Why benchmark microcontrollers?

Benchmarking is the process of measuring and comparing the performance of a system or a component under certain conditions. Benchmarking can help you evaluate the suitability of a microcontroller for your project, identify potential bottlenecks or issues, and improve your design and code quality. Benchmarking can also help you choose between different microcontroller options, such as 8-bit, 16-bit, or 32-bit, or between different vendors and families, such as AVR, PIC, or ARM.

2 What to benchmark in microcontrollers?

Microcontrollers have several aspects that can be benchmarked, depending on your goals and requirements. These include CPU performance, measured in cycles, instructions per second (IPS), or millions of instructions per second (MIPS). Memory performance is assessed in bytes, kilobytes, or megabytes, and in nanoseconds or microseconds. Additionally, power consumption is evaluated in milliwatts, milliamps, or microamps. Lastly, peripheral performance is measured in bits per second (bps), kilobits per second (kbps), or megabits per second (Mbps). All these factors are important to consider when benchmarking a microcontroller.

3 How to benchmark microcontrollers?

When benchmarking microcontrollers, there are various methods and tools to choose from depending on the level of detail and accuracy required. Software-based tools, such as CoreMark, run on the microcontroller and simulate typical workloads to measure CPU performance. While they are easy to use and can provide quick results, they may not reflect the actual performance in your application. On the other hand, hardware-based tools, like logic analyzers, connect to the microcontroller and measure its performance using external signals or probes. These can be more accurate and detailed but require more setup and calibration, and may interfere with the normal operation of the microcontroller. Lastly, hybrid tools combine software and hardware elements to offer a comprehensive yet flexible benchmarking solution. However, these may have compatibility or cost issues to consider.

4 What are the best benchmarking tools for microcontrollers?

The best benchmarking tool for your microcontroller may depend on your specific needs, preferences, and budget. CoreMark is a popular software-based benchmark that measures the CPU performance of microcontrollers through simulating typical workloads. Dhrystone is another software-based benchmark that measures the CPU performance of microcontrollers by executing a set of operations. EEMBC is a non-profit organization that has a collection of software-based benchmarks that measure the performance of microcontrollers in various application domains. Logic analyzers are hardware-based tools that can capture and analyze digital signals of the microcontroller and its peripherals. Debug probes are hybrid tools that can program, debug, and monitor the microcontroller using a software interface and a hardware connection. Each tool has its own advantages and disadvantages, so it is important to consider your needs and budget when selecting the best benchmarking tool for your microcontroller.