Cache Memory Performance
Cache memory plays a key role in helping your computer run faster and more efficiently. You and I rely on it every time we open applications or perform tasks that involve repetitive data access. It acts as a high-speed storage layer that balances the speed difference between the CPU and the main memory (RAM).
The main job of cache memory is to store the most frequently and recently used data and instructions. By doing this, it allows the CPU to access the needed information quickly—without having to wait for it to be retrieved from the much slower main memory. This not only improves response time but also boosts the overall performance of your system.
When we understand how cache memory works, we can better appreciate how it helps our devices respond faster to our commands, especially during multitasking or running heavy software.
To minimize the average memory access time, techniques include
- Reducing hit time, miss a penalty, or miss rate.
- Reducing the product of miss penalty and miss rate.
Techniques for reducing hit time
- Implementing small and simple caches.
- Using trace caches and pipelined cache access.
- Avoiding time loss in address translation.
Techniques for reducing missed penalties
- Utilizing multi-level caches.
- Giving priority to read misses overwrites.
- Implementing victim caches.
Techniques for reducing miss rate
- Increasing block size.
- Employing higher associativity.
- Utilizing compiler optimization.
- Implementing larger caches.
Techniques for reducing the product of miss rate and miss penalty
- Implementing non-blocking caches.
- Utilizing hardware pre-fetching.
- Employing compiler-controlled pre-fetching.