6. Cache Memory and Its Impact on System Performance
Cache memory serves as a high-speed storage area that enables faster access to frequently used data by acting as a buffer between the CPU and main memory. Its various characteristics, levels, mapping techniques, replacement policies, and performance metrics are crucial for understanding how cache can significantly enhance system performance and efficiency. The impact of cache design is critical for optimizing CPU throughput and reducing bottlenecks in modern computing systems.
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What we have learnt
- Cache memory is a high-speed memory that enhances system performance.
- It operates using mapping, replacement, and write policies.
- A high cache hit rate reduces average memory access time.
- Multilevel cache and coherency mechanisms are vital in modern multicore processors.
- Cache design significantly affects CPU throughput and overall efficiency.
Key Concepts
- -- Cache Memory
- A small, high-speed memory close to the CPU that stores frequently accessed data to improve system performance.
- -- Cache Levels
- Various levels of cache (L1, L2, L3) that balance the speed and capacity needed to optimize CPU performance.
- -- Cache Mapping Techniques
- Methods that define how data from main memory is organized into the cache, including direct mapping, fully associative mapping, and set-associative mapping.
- -- Cache Replacement Policies
- Strategies for deciding which cache block to remove when the cache is full, including Least Recently Used (LRU), First-In First-Out (FIFO), and Random replacement.
- -- Write Policies
- Methods that control how data writes occur between cache and main memory, notably write-through and write-back.
- -- Cache Performance Metrics
- Metrics such as hit rate, miss rate, and average memory access time that evaluate the efficiency of cache memory.
Additional Learning Materials
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