Looking at computers / cache memory?

[ChiTownZee]

How can one computer list under cache memory "128KB L1 cache + 256KB L2" and another computer under cache memory it can list Not Applicable? Is this not something every computer has?

 

[doxdogy]

Because the L2 and 128 which are the memory buffers built onto the CPU. They vary from brand to brand in size and speed. When it says not applicable, older CPU's don't have that built in cache. Built in cache is like a holding tank for information, makes it faster. This is from my DH. He use to sell computers and repairs and builds them on the side. For example: you are typing the number 1, the computer would anticipate your next move and store in L2 the numbers 2-0. So, that it speeds up the process of typing the actual numbers that follow the number 1. A processor does over a million calculations per second. Clear as mud? If you have any more questions, feel free to PM me and I will ask DH. I am not to good on the workings of a computer. He is the hardware person and I am the software person.

 

[ChiTownZee]

OK, so it makes it faster Fast enough to be worth an extra 100 bucks? other wise the processor and RAM are the same.

 

[jfulcer]

IMHO, no it's not worth the hundred bucks unless you're playing some pretty intense games or running fractal equations and such. Put the money in your Disney vacation fund instead.

If you're going to use the computer for DISing, Word Processing, printing cards for the kids/friends/etc and a few low key games, then you will be fine without the cache.

Of course, DW would know *I* would spend the extra $100, but then I'm a computer geek like doxdogy's DH.

 

[ErikdaRed]

On chip caches are extremely beneficial to performance. They don't function as mentioned above. They are part of the memory hierarchy where the hard disk is the biggest and slowest, RAM is a little smaller and faster, to the caches which are even smaller and faster. If the processor needs to reference a memory location (moving to a new part of the progam, opening a file) it looks up the hierarchy to find it. If it finds what it needs in the cache it is typically only a delay of 6-10ns. If it has to go off chip the delays jump 60ns (6x). And disk access times are around 4ms (~66000 x). So the more memory and cache you can get the better performance will be.

 

[jfulcer]

While ErikaRed is correct in that L1 and L2 cache helps boost system performance (and really is just a small picture of the system's normally memory, not a 'lookahead' cache), I still say that it's not worth the $100 if you're looking to save a little money based on your computer usage...