I'm currently exploring gem5, a popular simulator for computer architecture research, and I'm curious about its ability to ensure consistent execution time for the same code across multiple runs. My understanding is that gem5 simulates hardware behavior, but given the inherent complexities and potential sources of variation in a simulation environment, I'm wondering if it can reliably guarantee identical execution times for identical code.
Does gem5 have mechanisms or features in place to ensure that executing the same code yields consistent results in terms of execution time, regardless of factors such as simulation configurations, hardware models, or workload variations? If not, what are the main sources of variation in execution time when running the same code in gem5, and are there any strategies or best practices to mitigate such variations?