how important is the L1 cache in an intel processor?

[whoopz]

---

mga peeps,

ako gitabangan ako office mate assemble ug pc. girl ako office mate.

basic lang ang iya computer needs, but she likes to play a little bit of pc games pud.

what im confused with in choosing the processor is between:

intel p4 524
3ghz
533mhz fsb
1024kb L2 cache
28kb L1 cache
P4,800.00 at PC bodega

and

intel p4 541
3.2ghz
800mhz fsb
1024kb L2 cache
16kb L1 cache
P5,350.00 at PC bodega

i think the 541 is faster than the 524 pero ako question is dili ra ba maka affect ang gamay kaayo nga
16kb L1 cache sa 541?

wala mangud ko kabalo unsay importance aning L1 cache.



(out of topic: by the way, thanks to everybody who suggested in my choice of video card. kusog kaayo ang 7300gt gddr3. :mrgreen: i know its not the fastest one around, pero im fully satisfied with it.)

[marcus_aurelius]

L1 cache is an onchip highspeed memory embedded in the CPU. High capacity cache doesn't mean the better, it depends on the capability of the cpu to address data in the cache. For example if a cache is 2way associative this means that it can handle 2data at the same address space making it 2way basically, a 1 way associative cache can only handle 1data at the same address space, so 2 way associative is better than a single associative cache.

L1 cache in most x86 architecture is divided into data and instruction such as the Netburst architecture for example (which Pentium 4 5xx derives). Cache is where the commonly used/accesed data by the CPU is temporarily store making the operation of the CPU much faster. L1 cache is the first memory which the CPU looks to, if the data is not in L1 cache then the CPU will look into L2 cache and L3 cache is there is such until it reaches the Physical memory until the page file (which resides over the Hard Disk). Now basing my claims on Pentium 4 vs Pentium4 (Netburst Architecture) the larger the L1 cache is better. Why? it is because larger cache can hold larger data than the smaller one, but of course it is not the only factor that decides which CPU is faster (the clockspeed holds an important role too.)

Hope this helps.

[whoopz]

yup, it helped bro. thanks. so basically the higher the L1cache the better.

so which one between the two that i mentioned above is faster?
the first one has lower clock speed and lower fsb, but has higher L1 cache..
the second one has higher clock speed and higher fsb, but has lower L1 cache.
both their L2 cache is the same.

[marcus_aurelius]

Basically if your budget permits you go get the the P4 541, its lower L1 cache is compensated by the higher clock and bus frequency thus improving performance over P4 524. Why don't you get the Pentium D 805 instead bro I think its on the same price range, it has 2 physical cores(Dual core) compare to that of the Pentium4 5xx (1 physical core, 1 logical I assume its HT enabled).

[marcus_aurelius]

By the way bro, I think the L1 cache of both Processor you mentiioned has the same amount of L1 cache.

12kb for Instruction
16kb for data

28kb total L1 cache

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116231
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116014

I think PC bodega made a typo error. From the start I really doubt the difference in L1 cache for both processor, I know that L1 cache remains the same on all models for the same architecture, only the L2 cache differs in some cases.

But anyway its a good thing you have asked about cache at least it would be a reference for those who needs explanation.

[whoopz]

ah, so thats it. nasayop radiay pag butang ang L1 cache ato. naa man gud ko nakit-an site which provides specs of hardware. maybe i can post the link later.

based on the links you gave me, the same radiay ilang tanan specs except for the clock speed and the fsb which is faster in the 541. ok, we'll take the 541 bro. thanks for your info. :mrgreen:

about the dual core, i've tried it na bro. 805d ako nasulyan. ive got nothing against dual core procs pero dili rakaayo ko musalig anang dual core becoz of many comments from many people. they say nga mas kalas daw korente and dcore, and dili daw ga take advantage pa sa dual core ang mga games karon. games daw karon depend more on the gpu. on the other hand, daghan man pud musulti nga advantageous ang dcore mostly in multitasking.

but anyway, thanks kaayo for your help bro. you answered my question. :mrgreen:

[ZetroXen]

nindot kaayo mga bro da naa koy na learn... :mrgreen:

ngano ang cache size sa mga procs karon, gamay pa kaayo like ang pinakadako 4MB if i'm not mistaken? what is the biggest drawback(s) sa technology on why mao pa ni? interested lang ko.. Thanks :mrgreen:

[whoopz]

By the way bro, I think the L1 cache of both Processor you mentiioned has the same amount of L1 cache.

12kb for Instruction
16kb for data

28kb total L1 cache

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116231
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116014

I think PC bodega made a typo error. From the start I really doubt the difference in L1 cache for both processor, I know that L1 cache remains the same on all models for the same architecture, only the L2 cache differs in some cases.

But anyway its a good thing you have asked about cache at least it would be a reference for those who needs explanation.

yup, differ ang L2 cache sa intel 630 bro, it has 2mb L2 cache. ang uban 1mb ra.

[marcus_aurelius]

nindot kaayo mga bro da naa koy na learn... :mrgreen:

ngano ang cache size sa mga procs karon, gamay pa kaayo like ang pinakadako 4MB if i'm not mistaken? what is the biggest drawback(s) sa technology on why mao pa ni? interested lang ko.. Thanks :mrgreen:

The question is not how big the cache really. It's the processor's efficient capability on handling on die-cache. 10mb of L2 cache is useless if it can only handle 1way address handling (1way associative) but to sum up things it is always better to have a larger cache however the drawback is the cost. Larger cache means larger silicon die which can make a processor expensive to produce.

[ZetroXen]

Now I know.. Very nice info there Bro! Thanks kaayo! :mrgreen: