Computer Organisation and Architecture - Vol 3 | 4. Direct-mapped Caches: Misses, Writes and Performance by Abraham | Learn Smarter
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4. Direct-mapped Caches: Misses, Writes and Performance

This chapter discusses memory hierarchy and the role of cache memory in optimizing performance in computer systems. It highlights the differences between various memory types, emphasizing the speed, cost, and access times associated with SRAM, DRAM, and magnetic disks. Additionally, it describes the principle of locality of reference and how it helps in organizing memory efficiently, culminating in an explanation of cache memory's design and operation.

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Sections

  • 4.1

    Computer Organization And Architecture: A Pedagogical Aspect

    This section discusses various memory technologies and their access times, costs, and their roles in computer architecture, particularly focusing on caches, misses, and performance.

    Learning Practice

  • 4.2

    Direct-Mapped Caches: Misses, Writes And Performance

    This section explores the workings of direct-mapped caches, including their efficiency, performance issues, and the concepts of cache hits and misses.

    Learning Practice

  • 4.2.1

    Memory Technologies

    This section describes different memory technologies, highlighting their access times, costs, and implications for computer architecture.

    Learning Practice

  • 4.2.2

    Performance And Cost Considerations

    The section explores the trade-offs between access speed, cost, and capacity in various memory technologies, emphasizing the necessity for a memory hierarchy in computer architecture.

    Learning Practice

  • 4.3

    Memory Hierarchy

    The section discusses the various types of memory technologies and their characteristics, highlighting the importance of memory hierarchy in computer architecture.

    Learning Practice

  • 4.3.1

    Hierarchy Overview

    This section discusses the concept of memory hierarchy in computer architecture, detailing different types of memory and their trade-offs in speed, cost, and capacity.

    Learning Practice

  • 4.3.2

    Registers

    This section discusses the role of registers in computer architecture and their relation to memory hierarchy and performance.

    Learning Practice

  • 4.3.3

    Cache Memory

    Cache memory is a high-speed storage mechanism that enhances the performance of computer systems by reducing the access time to frequently used data and instructions.

    Learning Practice

  • 4.3.4

    Main Memory

    This section discusses the different types of main memory technologies and their performance, cost, and organization, emphasizing the memory hierarchy's importance in computer architecture.

    Learning Practice

  • 4.3.5

    Magnetic Disks

    Magnetic disks are a type of storage medium that offer low cost but slower access times compared to faster memory technologies like SRAM and DRAM.

    Learning Practice

  • 4.4

    Principle Of Locality Of Reference

    The Principle of Locality of Reference explains how programs tend to access data and instructions in clusters, which is key to optimizing memory architecture.

    Learning Practice

  • 4.4.1

    Temporal Locality

    This section explores the concept of temporal locality, highlighting how recently accessed memory items are likely to be accessed again, impacting memory hierarchies and cache performance.

    Learning Practice

  • 4.4.2

    Spatial Locality

    This section discusses the principle of spatial locality in computer memory systems, highlighting its importance in optimizing memory access times and system performance.

    Learning Practice

  • 4.5

    Cache Memory

    Cache memory serves as a high-speed intermediary between the CPU and main memory, utilizing locality of reference to enhance processing efficiency.

    Learning Practice

  • 4.5.1

    Cache Organization And Operation

    This section discusses cache memory, its organization, operation, and the principles influencing its efficiency within a memory hierarchy.

    Learning Practice

  • 4.5.2

    Cache Hit And Miss

    This section discusses the concepts of cache memory, including cache hits, cache misses, the importance of locality of reference, and the implications for computer architecture.

    Learning Practice

  • 4.5.3

    Mapping Functions

    This section introduces the concept of mapping functions used in direct-mapped caches, highlighting the relationship between main memory and cache lines.

    Learning Practice

  • 4.5.4

    Address Mapping

    The Address Mapping section covers the principles of caching in computer architecture, specifically focusing on direct mapping of cache lines to main memory blocks.

    Learning Practice

References

26 part a.pdf

Class Notes

Memorization

What we have learnt

  • Memory technologies vary by...
  • The principle of locality o...
  • Cache memory serves as a cr...

Final Test

Revision Tests