Specifications

Computer Architecture and Maintenance (G-Scheme-2014)

L2 cache was first introduced with the Intel Pentium and Pentium Pro computers and

has been included with ever process since, with the exception of the early versions

of Celeron processor. This cache is not as fast as the L1 cache, but is only slightly slower

since it is still located on the same processor chip, and is still faster than the computers

memory. The L2 cache is the second thing the computer looks at when performing

instructions.

L2,. or secondary cache, is memory between the RAM and the CPU (but not on

the CPU chip itself and is bigger than the primary cache (typically 64KB to 2MB). L2

ATC (Advanced Transfer Cache) uses micro-architectural improvements, which

provide a higher data bandwidth interface between the L2 cache and the processor

core, and is completely scaleable with the processor core frequency. The L2 cache is

also a unified, non-blocking cache, which improves performance over cache-on-

motherboard solutions through a dedicated 64-bit

cache

Level-3

L3 Cache is Cache found on the motherboard instead of the processor on earlier

computers. With today's computers this type of cache is a cache that is found on the

same chip and die as the processors. In the below picture of the Intel Core i7-3960X

Processor die, is an example of a processor chip containing six cores (CPUs) and the

shared L3 Cache. As can be seen in the picture, the L3 cache is shared between all cores

(CPUs) and is very large in comparison to what an L1 or L2 cache would be on the

same chip because it is cheaper although slower.

Since more manufacturers are beginning to include L2 cache into their

architectures, L3 cache is slowly replacing the L2 cache function the extra cache built

into the motherboards between the CPU and the main memory (old L2 cache

definition) is now being called the L3 cache.

Some manufacturers have proprietary L3 cache designs already, but most desktop and

notebook computers do not offer this feature yet. Micron has developed a chip set with

8MB of on-chip DRAM in the north bridge chip that acts as an L3 cache, but offering an

L3 cache as standard equipment is still a future prospect.

Advantage of Cache

• The cache memory enhances the speed of system or improving performance.

• Cache memory reduces a traditional system bottleneck.

• As the cache memory lies on the same chip (For LI cache) the access time is very

small.

Prepared By – Prof. Manoj.kavedia (9860174297 – 9324258878 ) (www.kavediasir.yolasite.com)