diff --git a/include/caffe/util/benchmark.hpp b/include/caffe/util/benchmark.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..fd6719a6820
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/caffe/util/benchmark.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+// Copyright 2014 kloud@github
+
+#ifndef CAFFE_UTIL_BENCHMARK_H_
+#define CAFFE_UTIL_BENCHMARK_H_
+
+#include <boost/date_time/posix_time/posix_time.hpp>
+#include <cuda_runtime.h>
+
+namespace caffe {
+
+class Timer {
+ public:
+  Timer();
+  virtual ~Timer();
+  void Start();
+  void Stop();
+  float MilliSeconds();
+  float Seconds();
+
+  inline bool initted() { return initted_; }
+  inline bool running() { return running_; }
+  inline bool has_run_at_least_once() { return has_run_at_least_once_; }
+
+ protected:
+  void Init();
+
+  bool initted_;
+  bool running_;
+  bool has_run_at_least_once_;
+  cudaEvent_t start_gpu_;
+  cudaEvent_t stop_gpu_;
+  boost::posix_time::ptime start_cpu_;
+  boost::posix_time::ptime stop_cpu_;
+  float elapsed_milliseconds_;
+};
+
+}  // namespace caffe
+
+#endif   // CAFFE_UTIL_BENCHMARK_H_
diff --git a/src/caffe/test/test_benchmark.cpp b/src/caffe/test/test_benchmark.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e8e3a116e3e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/caffe/test/test_benchmark.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,169 @@
+// Copyright 2014 kloud@github
+
+#include <unistd.h>  // for usleep
+#include <cuda_runtime.h>
+#include <gtest/gtest.h>
+
+#include "caffe/common.hpp"
+#include "caffe/util/benchmark.hpp"
+#include "caffe/test/test_caffe_main.hpp"
+
+namespace caffe {
+
+extern cudaDeviceProp CAFFE_TEST_CUDA_PROP;
+
+class BenchmarkTest : public ::testing::Test {};
+
+TEST_F(BenchmarkTest, TestTimerConstructorCPU) {
+  Caffe::set_mode(Caffe::CPU);
+  Timer timer;
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.initted());
+  EXPECT_FALSE(timer.running());
+  EXPECT_FALSE(timer.has_run_at_least_once());
+}
+
+TEST_F(BenchmarkTest, TestTimerConstructorGPU) {
+  Caffe::set_mode(Caffe::GPU);
+  Timer timer;
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.initted());
+  EXPECT_FALSE(timer.running());
+  EXPECT_FALSE(timer.has_run_at_least_once());
+}
+
+TEST_F(BenchmarkTest, TestTimerStartCPU) {
+  Caffe::set_mode(Caffe::CPU);
+  Timer timer;
+  timer.Start();
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.initted());
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.running());
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.has_run_at_least_once());
+  timer.Start();
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.initted());
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.running());
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.has_run_at_least_once());
+  timer.Stop();
+  timer.Start();
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.initted());
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.running());
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.has_run_at_least_once());
+}
+
+TEST_F(BenchmarkTest, TestTimerStartGPU) {
+  Caffe::set_mode(Caffe::GPU);
+  Timer timer;
+  timer.Start();
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.initted());
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.running());
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.has_run_at_least_once());
+  timer.Stop();
+  timer.Start();
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.initted());
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.running());
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.has_run_at_least_once());
+  timer.Start();
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.initted());
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.running());
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.has_run_at_least_once());
+}
+
+TEST_F(BenchmarkTest, TestTimerStopCPU) {
+  Caffe::set_mode(Caffe::CPU);
+  Timer timer;
+  timer.Stop();
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.initted());
+  EXPECT_FALSE(timer.running());
+  EXPECT_FALSE(timer.has_run_at_least_once());
+  timer.Start();
+  timer.Stop();
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.initted());
+  EXPECT_FALSE(timer.running());
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.has_run_at_least_once());
+  timer.Stop();
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.initted());
+  EXPECT_FALSE(timer.running());
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.has_run_at_least_once());
+}
+
+TEST_F(BenchmarkTest, TestTimerStopGPU) {
+  Caffe::set_mode(Caffe::GPU);
+  Timer timer;
+  timer.Stop();
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.initted());
+  EXPECT_FALSE(timer.running());
+  EXPECT_FALSE(timer.has_run_at_least_once());
+  timer.Start();
+  timer.Stop();
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.initted());
+  EXPECT_FALSE(timer.running());
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.has_run_at_least_once());
+  timer.Stop();
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.initted());
+  EXPECT_FALSE(timer.running());
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.has_run_at_least_once());
+}
+
+TEST_F(BenchmarkTest, TestTimerMilliSecondsCPU) {
+  Caffe::set_mode(Caffe::CPU);
+  Timer timer;
+  CHECK_EQ(timer.MilliSeconds(), 0);
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.initted());
+  EXPECT_FALSE(timer.running());
+  EXPECT_FALSE(timer.has_run_at_least_once());
+  timer.Start();
+  usleep(300 * 1000);
+  CHECK_GE(timer.MilliSeconds(), 299);
+  CHECK_LE(timer.MilliSeconds(), 301);
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.initted());
+  EXPECT_FALSE(timer.running());
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.has_run_at_least_once());
+}
+
+TEST_F(BenchmarkTest, TestTimerMilliSecondsGPU) {
+  Caffe::set_mode(Caffe::GPU);
+  Timer timer;
+  CHECK_EQ(timer.MilliSeconds(), 0);
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.initted());
+  EXPECT_FALSE(timer.running());
+  EXPECT_FALSE(timer.has_run_at_least_once());
+  timer.Start();
+  usleep(300 * 1000);
+  CHECK_GE(timer.MilliSeconds(), 299);
+  CHECK_LE(timer.MilliSeconds(), 301);
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.initted());
+  EXPECT_FALSE(timer.running());
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.has_run_at_least_once());
+}
+
+TEST_F(BenchmarkTest, TestTimerSecondsCPU) {
+  Caffe::set_mode(Caffe::CPU);
+  Timer timer;
+  CHECK_EQ(timer.Seconds(), 0);
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.initted());
+  EXPECT_FALSE(timer.running());
+  EXPECT_FALSE(timer.has_run_at_least_once());
+  timer.Start();
+  usleep(300 * 1000);
+  CHECK_GE(timer.Seconds(), 0.299);
+  CHECK_LE(timer.Seconds(), 0.301);
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.initted());
+  EXPECT_FALSE(timer.running());
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.has_run_at_least_once());
+}
+
+TEST_F(BenchmarkTest, TestTimerSecondsGPU) {
+  Caffe::set_mode(Caffe::GPU);
+  Timer timer;
+  CHECK_EQ(timer.Seconds(), 0);
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.initted());
+  EXPECT_FALSE(timer.running());
+  EXPECT_FALSE(timer.has_run_at_least_once());
+  timer.Start();
+  usleep(300 * 1000);
+  CHECK_GE(timer.Seconds(), 0.299);
+  CHECK_LE(timer.Seconds(), 0.301);
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.initted());
+  EXPECT_FALSE(timer.running());
+  EXPECT_TRUE(timer.has_run_at_least_once());
+}
+
+}  // namespace caffe
diff --git a/src/caffe/util/benchmark.cpp b/src/caffe/util/benchmark.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..21c38ad36fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/caffe/util/benchmark.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+// Copyright 2014 kloud@github
+
+#include <boost/date_time/posix_time/posix_time.hpp>
+#include <cuda_runtime.h>
+
+#include "caffe/common.hpp"
+#include "caffe/util/benchmark.hpp"
+
+namespace caffe {
+
+Timer::Timer()
+    : initted_(false),
+      running_(false),
+      has_run_at_least_once_(false) {
+  Init();
+}
+
+Timer::~Timer() {
+  if (Caffe::mode() == Caffe::GPU) {
+    CUDA_CHECK(cudaEventDestroy(start_gpu_));
+    CUDA_CHECK(cudaEventDestroy(stop_gpu_));
+  }
+}
+
+void Timer::Start() {
+  if (!running()) {
+    if (Caffe::mode() == Caffe::GPU) {
+      CUDA_CHECK(cudaEventRecord(start_gpu_, 0));
+    } else {
+      start_cpu_ = boost::posix_time::microsec_clock::local_time();
+    }
+    running_ = true;
+    has_run_at_least_once_ = true;
+  }
+}
+
+void Timer::Stop() {
+  if (running()) {
+    if (Caffe::mode() == Caffe::GPU) {
+      CUDA_CHECK(cudaEventRecord(stop_gpu_, 0));
+      CUDA_CHECK(cudaEventSynchronize(stop_gpu_));
+    } else {
+      stop_cpu_ = boost::posix_time::microsec_clock::local_time();
+    }
+    running_ = false;
+  }
+}
+
+float Timer::MilliSeconds() {
+  if (!has_run_at_least_once()) {
+    LOG(WARNING) << "Timer has never been run before reading time.";
+    return 0;
+  }
+  if (running()) {
+    Stop();
+  }
+  if (Caffe::mode() == Caffe::GPU) {
+    CUDA_CHECK(cudaEventElapsedTime(&elapsed_milliseconds_, start_gpu_,
+                                    stop_gpu_));
+  } else {
+    elapsed_milliseconds_ = (stop_cpu_ - start_cpu_).total_milliseconds();
+  }
+  return elapsed_milliseconds_;
+}
+
+float Timer::Seconds() {
+  return MilliSeconds() / 1000.;
+}
+
+void Timer::Init() {
+  if (!initted()) {
+    if (Caffe::mode() == Caffe::GPU) {
+      CUDA_CHECK(cudaEventCreate(&start_gpu_));
+      CUDA_CHECK(cudaEventCreate(&stop_gpu_));
+    }
+    initted_ = true;
+  }
+}
+
+}  // namespace caffe
diff --git a/tools/net_speed_benchmark.cpp b/tools/net_speed_benchmark.cpp
index 9976744d35e..96d40a2eb37 100644
--- a/tools/net_speed_benchmark.cpp
+++ b/tools/net_speed_benchmark.cpp
@@ -1,31 +1,30 @@
 // Copyright 2013 Yangqing Jia
 
+#include <cuda_runtime.h>
+#include <fcntl.h>
+#include <google/protobuf/text_format.h>
+
+#include <cstring>
 #include <ctime>
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
 
-#include "cuda_runtime.h"
-#include "fcntl.h"
-#include "google/protobuf/text_format.h"
-
 #include "caffe/blob.hpp"
 #include "caffe/common.hpp"
 #include "caffe/net.hpp"
 #include "caffe/filler.hpp"
 #include "caffe/proto/caffe.pb.h"
+#include "caffe/util/benchmark.hpp"
 #include "caffe/util/io.hpp"
 #include "caffe/solver.hpp"
 
-using boost::shared_ptr;
-
 using namespace caffe;  // NOLINT(build/namespaces)
 
 int main(int argc, char** argv) {
   int total_iter = 50;
-
   if (argc < 2) {
-    LOG(ERROR) << "net_speed_benchmark net_proto [iterations=50] [CPU/GPU] "
-        << "[Device_id=0]";
+    LOG(ERROR) << "net_speed_benchmark net_proto [iterations=50]"
+        " [CPU/GPU] [Device_id=0]";
     return 0;
   }
 
@@ -67,37 +66,37 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv) {
   vector<vector<Blob<float>*> >& bottom_vecs = caffe_net.bottom_vecs();
   vector<vector<Blob<float>*> >& top_vecs = caffe_net.top_vecs();
   LOG(ERROR) << "*** Benchmark begins ***";
-  clock_t forward_start = clock();
+  Timer total_timer;
+  total_timer.Start();
+  Timer forward_timer;
+  forward_timer.Start();
+  Timer timer;
   for (int i = 0; i < layers.size(); ++i) {
     const string& layername = layers[i]->layer_param().name();
-    clock_t start = clock();
+    timer.Start();
     for (int j = 0; j < total_iter; ++j) {
       layers[i]->Forward(bottom_vecs[i], &top_vecs[i]);
     }
-    LOG(ERROR) << layername << "\tforward: "
-        << static_cast<float>(clock() - start) / CLOCKS_PER_SEC
-        << " seconds.";
+    LOG(ERROR) << layername << "\tforward: " << timer.MilliSeconds() <<
+        " milli seconds.";
   }
-  LOG(ERROR) << "Forward pass: "
-      << static_cast<float>(clock() - forward_start) / CLOCKS_PER_SEC
-      << " seconds.";
-  clock_t backward_start = clock();
+  LOG(ERROR) << "Forward pass: " << forward_timer.MilliSeconds() <<
+      " milli seconds.";
+  Timer backward_timer;
+  backward_timer.Start();
   for (int i = layers.size() - 1; i >= 0; --i) {
     const string& layername = layers[i]->layer_param().name();
-    clock_t start = clock();
+    timer.Start();
     for (int j = 0; j < total_iter; ++j) {
       layers[i]->Backward(top_vecs[i], true, &bottom_vecs[i]);
     }
     LOG(ERROR) << layername << "\tbackward: "
-        << static_cast<float>(clock() - start) / CLOCKS_PER_SEC
-        << " seconds.";
+        << timer.MilliSeconds() << " milli seconds.";
   }
-  LOG(ERROR) << "Backward pass: "
-      << static_cast<float>(clock() - backward_start) / CLOCKS_PER_SEC
-      << " seconds.";
-  LOG(ERROR) << "Total Time: "
-      << static_cast<float>(clock() - forward_start) / CLOCKS_PER_SEC
-      << " seconds.";
+  LOG(ERROR) << "Backward pass: " << backward_timer.MilliSeconds() <<
+      " milli seconds.";
+  LOG(ERROR) << "Total Time: " << total_timer.MilliSeconds() <<
+      " milli seconds.";
   LOG(ERROR) << "*** Benchmark ends ***";
   return 0;
 }