Main Ideas For Today

• Direct Mapped Cache
• Fully Associative Cache
• Set Associative Cache
• Cache Coherency
• Thrashing
• Cache Replacement Policies
• Cache Coherency

Reading Assignment

• Null & Lobur, Chapter 6, Section 6.4, 6.6.

Lecture Slides

• Class #20 - Cache Memory
  (Slides are only available for download from on-campus locations)

Web Sites Related to Today's Topic

CPU Cache

A set of pages from the Wikipedia describing cache memory, how it works and how it can be implemented.

The Fundamentals of Cache

A page that discusses cache memory, including direct, fully associative and set-associative caches.

Memory Cache Simulation

A java applet that animates the operation of cache memory. The animation will work for direct, fully associative and set associative caches.

Homework Assigned Today

Due Date: 11/21/05


1. Null & Lobur, Chapter 6: #2, #4, #6, #9.
   NOTE: For #9, assume the cache was initially empty. Thus, you must count the first four misses when computing your hit ratio.
2. Answer the following question using the system from problem #2. Where in the cache (which block and byte) would the byte with main memory address 12938410 be located if it were in the cache?
3. Write a paragraph discussing the relative potential for thrashing to occur in the three cache mapping schemes that we have discussed (Direct, Fully Associative, Set Associative).

Project Assigned Today

Due: 12/16/05


• Project #3 - Cache Simulations