what does L2 cache do?

[shawshank62]

I know that L2 cache is the like memory on the chip and is faster than the main ram....but what does it do?

[ShawnD1]

L2 is used as memory for processes where the answer is thrown away. Lets say the computer is trying to do 3 + 5 + 7. First, 3 + 5 is stored as 8 in either L1 or L2 then 7 is added to that stored number to get 15.

With no L2, the RAM would be used more and the computer would be slower than crap. So slow we might even call it 'Celeron'

[TOAD6147]

secondary cache
By caching data in fast, pricey memory, you speed up your system performance. A secondary cache is bigger than the primary cache (usually in the same chip as the CPU) and fits between it and main memory (RAM). It's faster than main memory, but slower than primary cache memory. It's typically around 256K in size.

See also: cache, L1 cache, L2 cache, primary cache

[NDC]

http://systems.webopedia.com/TERM/C/cache.htm

[John Prophet]

Information that has already been used (and therefore likely to be used again) is stored in that faster on chip cache...that way if it has to be accessed again it can be accessed from the cache and not from the RAM which is much slower.

JP

[DPA]

i still think that cache should be pronounced kaysh, not cash... it just sounds retarded being said any other way


IMO that is

[John Prophet]

good thorough article http://arstechnica.com/paedia/c/caching/caching-1.html

JP

Here is my technical explanation of the current x86 cache architecture, including traditional and trace cache designs....

http://www.sysopt.com/articles/p4/index3.html

Hope this helps,
Robert Richmond

[shawshank62]

wow! that was fast. Thx for the info.