Using psim, gdb, gcc and binutils the curious user can construct an environment that allows them to play with PowerPC Environment without the need for real hardware.
PSIM includes many (contributed) monitoring features which (unlike many other simulators) do not come with a great penalty in performance.
Thus the performance analyst is able to use this simulator to analyse the performance of the system under test.
If PSIM doesn't monitor a components of interest, the source code is freely available, and hence there is no hinderance to changing things to meet a specific analysts needs.
PSIM models all three levels of the PowerPC Architecture: UEA, VEA and OEA. Further, the internal design is such that PSIM can be extended to support additional requirements.