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RDTSC Cycle Counter

Easy · low_latency · Quant Developer interview question · rdtsc, cycle-counting, performance-measurement, low-latency, c++, x86, intrinsics

The Intel RDTSC (Read Time-Stamp Counter) instruction provides a high-resolution, low-overhead method for measuring CPU cycles, critical for precise performance profiling. This direct access to processor timing is invaluable for identifying and optimizing bottlenecks in latency-sensitive applications. In quantitative finance, particularly high-frequency trading (HFT), cycle-level timing is indispensable for fine-tuning algorithmic execution paths and ensuring minimal latency. Task Implement two