What is The Cache Memory

Hello friends, today we will discuss the cache memory. If you want to read the detail information of different types of memory, the post are here Primary Memory, Secondary Memory, and their types and the difference between Static RAM and Dynamic RAM.

The Catch Memory

The Cache  Memory Definitions 

The cache memory is a small amount of high-speed memory, present between the primary memory (RAM) and CPU (processor). Its access time is much less compared to that of the main memory. It is an intermediate memory and is not accessible to users. It stores instructions and data, which are to be immediately executed. It is used to reduce the average access time reading data, which are stored in the main memory. Thus the cache memory increases the operating speed of the system. But it is much costlier than the main memory.

Structure of the catch memory

Working of the Cache Memory

Cache memory is in between CPU and primary memory. It takes data or instruction from primary memory and stores them in cache memory along its the original address of that instruction. Whenever CPU needs that data/instruction, cache memory present that instantly with a fraction of a nanosecond. So CPU can do his work fast.

Types of Cache Memory

Modern computers are having different cache memory called its levels, L1, L2, and L3, The smallest and fastest cache memory is L1, after L2 and nowadays we are using L3 memory. Even INTEL has introduced the L4 type of cache memory in some computers. these are as follows.

Level 1 or L1 cache memory -

L1 cache memory will be present inside the CPU. L1 cache is very fast it runs at the same clock speed as the speed of the processor. It is the most expensive type of memory and its size is extremely limited. In modern CPUs, the L1 cache is divided into two parts: a data section (L1d) to store data and an instruction section (L1i) to store instruction resp.

Level 2 or L2 cache memory -

It is embedded memory and present on the motherboard close to the CPU. L2 cache is less expensive, larger in size but slower in speed than the L1 cache.

Level 3 or L3 cache memory -

L3 cache memory is much larger than L1 and L2 specially developed to improve the performance of L1 and L2. L3 level memory has its own importance. L3 has significantly less speed than L1 and L2 but usually double the speed of DRAM. In multi-core processors, each core has its own dedicated private L1 and L2 cache, but L3 tends to be a shared cache that is common to all the cores, this technique plays an important role in data sharing and inter-core communication.


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