Cache Memory in Computer Organization

Cache Memory is a special very high-speed memory. The cache is a

smaller and faster memory that stores copies of the data from frequently
used main memory locations. There are various independent caches in
a CPU, which store instructions and data. The most important use of
cache memory is that it is used to reduce the average time to access
data from the main memory.
Characteristics of Cache Memory
• Cache memory is an extremely fast memory type that acts as a buffer
between RAM and the CPU.
• Cache Memory holds frequently requested data and instructions so
that they are immediately available to the CPU when needed.
• Cache memory is costlier than main memory or disk memory but more
economical than CPU registers.
• Cache Memory is used to speed up and synchronize with a high-
speed CPU.

Cache Memory

Cache Performance
When the processor needs to read or write a location in the main
memory, it first checks for a corresponding entry in the cache.
• If the processor finds that the memory location is in the cache,
a Cache Hit has occurred and data is read from the cache.
• If the processor does not find the memory location in the cache,
a cache miss has occurred. For a cache miss, the cache allocates a
new entry and copies in data from the main memory, then the request
is fulfilled from the contents of the cache.
The performance of cache memory is frequently measured in terms of a
quantity called Hit ratio.
Hit Ratio(H) = hit / (hit + miss) = no. of hits/total accesses
Miss Ratio = miss / (hit + miss) = no. of miss/total accesses = 1
- hit ratio(H)
We can improve Cache performance using higher cache block size, and
higher associativity, reduce miss rate, reduce miss penalty, and reduce
the time to hit in the cache.
Cache Mapping
There are three different types of mapping used for the purpose of cache
memory which is as follows:
• Direct Mapping
• Associative Mapping
• Set-Associative Mapping
1. Direct Mapping
The simplest technique, known as direct mapping, maps each block of
main memory into only one possible cache line. or In Direct mapping,
assign each memory block to a specific line in the cache. If a line is
previously taken up by a memory block when a new block needs to be
loaded, the old block is trashed. An address space is split into two parts
index field and a tag field. The cache is used to store the tag field
whereas the rest is stored in the main memory. Direct mapping`s
performance is directly proportional to the Hit ratio.
i = j modulo m
where
i = cache line number
j = main memory block number
m = number of lines in the cache

Direct Mapping

For purposes of cache access, each main memory address can be

viewed as consisting of three fields. The least significant w bits identify a
unique word or byte within a block of main memory. In most
contemporary machines, the address is at the byte level. The remaining
s bits specify one of the 2s blocks of main memory. The cache logic
interprets these s bits as a tag of s-r bits (the most significant portion)
and a line field of r bits. This latter field identifies one of the m=2r lines of
the cache. Line offset is index bits in the direct mapping.

Direct Mapping – Structure

2. Associative Mapping
In this type of mapping, associative memory is used to store the content
and addresses of the memory word. Any block can go into any line of the
cache. This means that the word id bits are used to identify which word
in the block is needed, but the tag becomes all of the remaining bits. This
enables the placement of any word at any place in the cache memory. It
is considered to be the fastest and most flexible mapping form. In
associative mapping, the index bits are zero.
 Associative Mapping – Structure

3. Set-Associative Mapping
This form of mapping is an enhanced form of direct mapping where the
drawbacks of direct mapping are removed. Set associative addresses
the problem of possible thrashing in the direct mapping method. It does
this by saying that instead of having exactly one line that a block can
map to in the cache, we will group a few lines together creating a set.
Then a block in memory can map to any one of the lines of a specific set.
Set-associative mapping allows each word that is present in the cache
can have two or more words in the main memory for the same index
address. Set associative cache mapping combines the best of direct and
associative cache mapping techniques. In set associative mapping the
index bits are given by the set offset bits. In this case, the cache consists
of a number of sets, each of which consists of a number of lines.

Set-Associative Mapping
Relationships in the Set-Associative Mapping can be defined as:
m = v * k
i= j mod v

where
i = cache set number
j = main memory block number
v = number of sets
m = number of lines in the cache number of sets
k = number of lines in each set

Set-Associative Mapping – Structure

For more, you can refer to the Difference between Types of Cache
Mapping.
Application of Cache Memory
Here are some of the applications of Cache Memory.
1. Primary Cache: A primary cache is always located on the processor
chip. This cache is small and its access time is comparable to that of
processor registers.
2. Secondary Cache: Secondary cache is placed between the primary
cache and the rest of the memory. It is referred to as the level 2 (L2)
cache. Often, the Level 2 cache is also housed on the processor chip.
3. Spatial Locality of Reference: Spatial Locality of Reference says
that there is a chance that the element will be present in close
proximity to the reference point and next time if again searched then
more close proximity to the point of reference.
4. Temporal Locality of Reference: Temporal Locality of
Reference uses the Least recently used algorithm will be used.
Whenever there is page fault occurs within a word will not only load
the word in the main memory but the complete page fault will be
loaded because the spatial locality of reference rule says that if you
are referring to any word next word will be referred to in its register
that’s why we load complete page table so the complete block will be
loaded.
Advantages of Cache Memory
• Cache Memory is faster in comparison to main memory and
secondary memory.
• Programs stored by Cache Memory can be executed in less time.
• The data access time of Cache Memory is less than that of the main
memory.
• Cache Memory stored data and instructions that are regularly used by
the CPU, therefore it increases the performance of the CPU.
Disadvantages of Cache Memory
• Cache Memory is costlier than primary memory and secondary
memory.
• Data is stored on a temporary basis in Cache Memory.
• Whenever the system is turned off, data and instructions stored in
cache memory get destroyed.
• The high cost of cache memory increases the price of the Computer
System.