Cache Question

Troubled_Christian · 16-January-07, 07:30 PM

What exactly is/are the L1 and L2 caches? And which would be a better cpu. A 24KB+32KB L1 cache and a 2 x 2MB L2 cache. Or a cpu with L1 32KB+32KB and a L2 4M shared cache?

Slaymate · 16-January-07, 07:38 PM

If you have the money go for the 4mb of L2. While you may
not notice a big difference in the apps and or games now.
It will help in the very near future :-)

milosh · 16-January-07, 08:46 PM

provided you're talking about processors from the same company, seeing how AMD-Intel comparisons dont always work on a 1:1 ratio

now, as to the first question, (i need people to check what i write here cuz i havent slept for a few days and im still a newb) L1 and L2 refer to the levels of "storage" for the processor

they store information for the cpu to access and process

L1 is the level that can be accessed faster than L2, but because of this, cannot hold as much

after L2 is L3, which is on the motherboard, and is what used to be L2

after L3 is RAM, then page files on the hard drive

me and slaymate answer your questions?

Troubled_Christian · 17-January-07, 06:22 PM

yes, you helped me with the what is a cache. but what's the diffference between the two? like. whether or not it's shared or seperate?

corruptjoker · 17-January-07, 06:57 PM

I could be wrong but the shared cache means there is 4mb that is shared between the two cores on the cpu. Instead of each core haveing it's own 2mb dedicated cache, there is 4mb that can be accessed by either core. I am pretty sure I am right, but i could be wrong.

milosh · 17-January-07, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corruptjoker


	I could be wrong but the shared cache means there is 4mb that is shared between the two cores on the cpu. Instead of each core haveing it's own 2mb dedicated cache, there is 4mb that can be accessed by either core. I am pretty sure I am right, but i could be wrong.

granted, the question then is

which is better?

corruptjoker · 17-January-07, 07:13 PM

From what I read and have heard the Intels are the best right now and they are all shared cache. My thought would be that shared would be better based on the fact that most software people use is not designed for dual core cpu's. So, it could be said that when running something that needs a lot of cpu power, video encodeing, the single core that is working has access to 4mb of cache instead of 2...??? Anyone care to elaborate, or tell me I am not seeing this correctlly?

CubanConnectionZ · 17-January-07, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corruptjoker


	From what I read and have heard the Intels are the best right now and they are all shared cache. My thought would be that shared would be better based on the fact that most software people use is not designed for dual core cpu's. So, it could be said that when running something that needs a lot of cpu power, video encodeing, the single core that is working has access to 4mb of cache instead of 2...??? Anyone care to elaborate, or tell me I am not seeing this correctlly?

That is a good questions.

milosh · 17-January-07, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corruptjoker


	From what I read and have heard the Intels are the best right now and they are all shared cache. My thought would be that shared would be better based on the fact that most software people use is not designed for dual core cpu's. So, it could be said that when running something that needs a lot of cpu power, video encodeing, the single core that is working has access to 4mb of cache instead of 2...??? Anyone care to elaborate, or tell me I am not seeing this correctlly?

ya, it would seem like a shared 4mb would be better than 2x2mb because most things are single threaded and those that arent probably wont use all that much

the only problem is, i f i remember correctly, when the cache are shared, they are slower, similar to someone having to leave their house and walk down to the side walk to pick up the mail from the mailbox his neighbor shares, verses haveing a smally mailbox on the front of your house

this situation also reminds me of "blind leading the blind"

16-January-07, 07:30 PM		#1 (permalink)
Troubled_Christian Apex Techie Wannabe	Cache Question What exactly is/are the L1 and L2 caches? And which would be a better cpu. A 24KB+32KB L1 cache and a 2 x 2MB L2 cache. Or a cpu with L1 32KB+32KB and a L2 4M shared cache?

16-January-07, 07:38 PM		#2 (permalink)
Slaymate PCApex Reviewer From Hell	Re: Cache Question If you have the money go for the 4mb of L2. While you may not notice a big difference in the apps and or games now. It will help in the very near future :-)

16-January-07, 08:46 PM		#3 (permalink)
milosh Apex Master Tech Apprentice	Re: Cache Question provided you're talking about processors from the same company, seeing how AMD-Intel comparisons dont always work on a 1:1 ratio now, as to the first question, (i need people to check what i write here cuz i havent slept for a few days and im still a newb) L1 and L2 refer to the levels of "storage" for the processor they store information for the cpu to access and process L1 is the level that can be accessed faster than L2, but because of this, cannot hold as much after L2 is L3, which is on the motherboard, and is what used to be L2 after L3 is RAM, then page files on the hard drive me and slaymate answer your questions?

17-January-07, 06:22 PM		#4 (permalink)
Troubled_Christian Apex Techie Wannabe	Re: Cache Question yes, you helped me with the what is a cache. but what's the diffference between the two? like. whether or not it's shared or seperate?

17-January-07, 06:57 PM		#5 (permalink)
corruptjoker Decept-Hoe-Con	Re: Cache Question I could be wrong but the shared cache means there is 4mb that is shared between the two cores on the cpu. Instead of each core haveing it's own 2mb dedicated cache, there is 4mb that can be accessed by either core. I am pretty sure I am right, but i could be wrong.

17-January-07, 07:13 PM		#7 (permalink)
corruptjoker Decept-Hoe-Con	Re: Cache Question From what I read and have heard the Intels are the best right now and they are all shared cache. My thought would be that shared would be better based on the fact that most software people use is not designed for dual core cpu's. So, it could be said that when running something that needs a lot of cpu power, video encodeing, the single core that is working has access to 4mb of cache instead of 2...??? Anyone care to elaborate, or tell me I am not seeing this correctlly?

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