L2 Cache Question

verselloversello New
edited September 2003 in Hardware
Anyone know what happens if l2 cache goes bad? I had a job interview today, and for the most part I answered every question quite well, until the interviewer asked me what happens if L2 cache goes bad :|

I took a guess that the system would slow down and such... I didn't say there would be errors because I was too surprised of a question like that. Anyone have a good answer?

Comments

  • TheBaronTheBaron Austin, TX
    edited September 2003
    how often does L2 Cache go BAD? that would hit me out of the blue too...
  • EnverexEnverex Worcester, UK Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    Everything would crash, the computer most likely wouldnt even be able to boot. You would have to dissable the Level 2 cache in the BIOS before you would be able to do anything..... if you could even get to the BIOS.....

    NS
  • stoopidstoopid Albany, NY New
    edited September 2003
    Wow, tough question...
  • Ken-MastersKen-Masters In your backyard!!!
    edited September 2003
    Well, kinda off topic, but What is the difference with L1 vs L2 or even L3.

    I have 64k L1 and 1Meg of L2.

    And whats the difference with L2 and L3.

    Which is faster and which is better?
  • Geeky1Geeky1 University of the Pacific (Stockton, CA, USA)
    edited September 2003
    All I know is that having more cache lets you buy better stuff... :D

    (sorry... couldn't resist)
  • Mt_GoatMt_Goat Head Cheezy Knob Pflugerville (north of Austin) Icrontian
    edited September 2003
    Originally posted by Geeky1
    All I know is that having more cache lets you buy better stuff... :D

    (sorry... couldn't resist)
    No no, that's cash like Johnny Cash. Ya know moola, green denero. Now cache is what a squirrel has and needs to survive the winter. Oh nuts! :D
  • drowddrowd Texas
    edited September 2003
    very funny guys :D i am not too well versed in this topic, but i DO remember that back when the P3 was king, there was a huge controversy about how much L2 cache actually mattered and i remember a bunch of my buddies going out and buying celerons because they were much cheaper but only had 128 L2 cache whereas the P3's had 512 L2 cache. i remember several people trying to convince me to get a celeron because i would only need that much L2 cache (in a P3) if i was webhosting or something. needless to say, i went with the P3 and that thing still runs like a rock to this day (albeit slow) :D . . .
  • stoopidstoopid Albany, NY New
    edited September 2003
    *edit note* -- Most P3's had 256 kb L2, but the Tualatins had 512kb L2 (they were later P3's and more like P3.1's).

    I'm not a cpu expert, but I know that each stage of cache is responsible for holding different functions, and they used to run at different clock speeds (but I think they're synchronous now). Since cache cannot be modified, it's really not necessary for an overclocker to bother to learn about it. I remember reading boring AMD white sheets about the cache operation years ago. It was such useful knowledge I have promptly forgot all of it since. :cool:
  • SwordsmanSwordsman
    edited September 2003
    All I have seen lately, increased amounts of L2 cache allows the processor to do more "work" in a given clock cycly as in the Barton XP chips versus the Thoroughbred XPs. Given the same MHz, AMD rates the two chips differently and the only difference is the size of the cache. If I'm wrong, please correct me!

    S!
Sign In or Register to comment.