[OT] Hardware Info Help

[Aaron Grewell]

Well, let me see if I can get this right.  L1 cache is always built into
the processor.  It's very fast but there isn't much of it, used to keep
very frequently used information close at hand.  L2 cache is usually
built into modern processors.  With the notable exception of the
original Celeron it's been built in since the Pentium.  With 386 and 486
processors L2 was optional, one of the features of a more expensive
motherboard.  It's not as fast as L1, but is a lot bigger.  Stuff that's
used less often or is too big to fit in L1 will go into L2.  L3 is
unusual in the desktop market.  The K6-III had it, but it's the only one
I know of.  It was what made that chip the last word in Socket 7
architecture, and also entirely too expensive for AMD to produce.  Xeons
and other high-end server chips (PA-RISC, SPARC, et al) have it as
well.  It's only needed when lots of data is being thrown around,
otherwise the extra cost isn't worth it.  It is larger but slower than
L2.  Clever cache management is one of the features most important in a
chip, and nowhere is that more clear than in a server chip that has 3
kinds to choose from and has to figure out where best to store its
dataset.

On Wed, 2003-01-08 at 14:21, Condon Thomas A KPWA wrote:
> Aaron Grewell <mailto:agrewell at uwb.edu> typed thusly on Wednesday, January
> 08, 2003 2:17 PM:
> 
> > Both are available, but it should be noted that it's on-chip L3 cache.
> > L2 is still 256K or 512K depending on what model you buy.  The L3 isn't
> > as fast as the L1 or L2, and is only really useful in database and 
> 
> OK, folks, thanks for continuing the topic.  Now, if you'll continue my
> education, what are L1, L2 and L3 cache?  I know what cache is, just not the
> difference between these types.
> 
> 
> In Harmony's Way, and In A Chord,
> 
> Tom  :-})
> 
> Thomas A. Condon
> Barbershop Bass Singer
> Registered Linux User #154358
> A Jester Unemployed
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