Does Cache Size Really Boost Performance?

Sidney · 25th October 2007, 02:37

The next Core 2 generation based on the 45-nm Penryn core will even carry up to 6 MB of L2 cache. Is this just marketing bluff or does the swelling of L2 cache capacities indeed lead to better performance? Let's find out.

http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/10/...ter/index.html

jmke · 25th October 2007, 08:37

interesting would be to find out at what point extra L2 cache no longer makes a difference, 6Mb will still give a nice boost

25th October 2007, 12:05

I think, considering cache costs a lot of money, Intel and AMD know exactly why they give the chips a certain amount of cache.

jmke · 25th October 2007, 12:29

ignoring price, what would be the saturation point?

25th October 2007, 13:11

Saturation point couldn't be that much higher than 12MB? There is only so much available bandwidth / time available for prefetching use before anything extra would be moot. Intel's 65nm Tulsa had a 16mb L3 cache... anyone ever do any cache analysis with that one?

Everything will change with CSI though, I feel more cache will continue to be added with the 32nm Nehalem, aka "Westmere" since CSI will allow faster prefetching ability.

25th October 2007, 02:37	#1
Sidney Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 15,738	Does Cache Size Really Boost Performance? The next Core 2 generation based on the 45-nm Penryn core will even carry up to 6 MB of L2 cache. Is this just marketing bluff or does the swelling of L2 cache capacities indeed lead to better performance? Let's find out. http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/10/...ter/index.html __________________ lazyman Opteron 165 (2) @2.85 1.42 vcore AMD Stock HSF + Chill Vent II

25th October 2007, 08:37	#2
jmke Madshrimp Join Date: May 2002 Location: 7090/Belgium Posts: 79,021	interesting would be to find out at what point extra L2 cache no longer makes a difference, 6Mb will still give a nice boost __________________

25th October 2007, 12:29	#4
jmke Madshrimp Join Date: May 2002 Location: 7090/Belgium Posts: 79,021	ignoring price, what would be the saturation point? __________________

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25th October 2007, 12:05	#3
Rutar Posts: n/a	I think, considering cache costs a lot of money, Intel and AMD know exactly why they give the chips a certain amount of cache.

25th October 2007, 13:11	#5
Kougar Posts: n/a	Saturation point couldn't be that much higher than 12MB? There is only so much available bandwidth / time available for prefetching use before anything extra would be moot. Intel's 65nm Tulsa had a 16mb L3 cache... anyone ever do any cache analysis with that one? Everything will change with CSI though, I feel more cache will continue to be added with the 32nm Nehalem, aka "Westmere" since CSI will allow faster prefetching ability.