This, and loop unrolling, are two commons misconception about uarch optimization. https://lemire.me/blog/2012/05/31/data-alignment-for-speed-myth-or-reality/ h

This, and loop unrolling, are two commons misconception about uarch optimization. https://lemire.me/blog/2012/05/31/data-alignment-for-speed-myth-or-reality/ https://lemire.me/blog/2012/05/31/data-alignment-for-speed-m... Memory alignment is innocuous (others than often compromise code legibility). Loop unrolling, on the other hand, can slow down the code. Specially in small loops. See Agner uarch PDF.