Question

State cache memory? Give its types and explain with neat diagram.

Answer 1

Cache memory:

Cache memory is extremely fast memory that is built into a CPU, or located next to it on a separate chip. It supplies the processor with the most frequently requested data and instructions. A cache controller always tries to make sure that the data required by the processor in the next memory access is available in the cache memory. 

There are three types of cache memory: L1, L2 & L3 cache memory.

L1 cache memory:

The L1 cache also called internal or integral cache is always a part of the processor chip.

L1 cache always runs at full processor speed.

It was the fastest cache in the system.

L1 cache was originally 8 KB.

L2 cache memory:

The L2 cache originally called external cache because it was external to the processor chip when it was introduced.

It was present on the motherboard and used to run at CPU bus speed.

To improve the performance of the system, L2 cache was directly incorporated as part of the processor die.

L2 cache was originally 128 KB.

L3 cache memory:

The L3 cache has been present in high end work stations and servers such as Xenon and Itanium.

Pentium 4 Extreme Edition was the first desktop PC processor with L3 cache.

Later Editions of same processor were introduced with larger L2 cache rather than L3 cache.