1. A processor including one or more processor cores, the processor comprising: execution logic configured to execute instructions including one or more processes each having one or more execution threads; and a profiling mechanism comprising: monitor logic configured to monitor selected ones of the one or more processes, record performance data associated with the selected ones of the one or more processes, and store the performance data within a storage buffer without interrupting a flow of control of the selected ones of the one or more processes being monitored; wherein the monitor logic includes a plurality of model specific registers, wherein a first model specific register includes a plurality of bits, each configured to enable and disable a respective monitoring function; a monitor process configured to transfer the performance data from the storage buffer to another storage.