What size cache memory does a normal processor have?

Early PCs typically had from 16 KB to 128 KB of cache memory. With 486 processors, Intel added 8 KB of memory to the CPU as Level 1 (L1) memory. As much as 256 KB of external Level 2 (L2) cache memory was used in these systems. Pentium processors saw the external cache memory double again to 512 KB on the high end.

Do all cpus have cache?

Virtually every modern CPU core from ultra-low power chips like the ARM Cortex-A5 to the highest-end Intel Core i9 use caches. Even higher-end microcontrollers often have small caches or offer them as options — the performance benefits are too large to ignore, even in ultra-low-power designs.

How do I know my cache line size?

Each cache line/slot matches a memory block. That means each cache line contains 16 bytes. If the cache is 64Kbytes then 64Kbytes/16 = 4096 cache lines. To address these 4096 cache lines, we need 12 bits (212 = 4096).

How many cache lines are there?

Common cache line sizes are 32, 64 and 128 bytes. A cache can only hold a limited number of lines, determined by the cache size. For example, a 64 kilobyte cache with 64-byte lines has 1024 cache lines.

How many cache lines does a cache have?

The size of these chunks is called the cache line size. Common cache line sizes are 32, 64 and 128 bytes. A cache can only hold a limited number of lines, determined by the cache size. For example, a 64 kilobyte cache with 64-byte lines has 1024 cache lines.

What is the size of the cache line?

The block of memory that is transferred to a memory cache. The cache line is generally fixed in size, typically ranging from 16 to 256 bytes.

Why is L1 cache smaller?

High throughput often means being able to handle multiple reads and writes every cycle, i.e. multiple ports. This takes more area and power for the same capacity as a lower-throughput cache, so that’s another reason for L1 to stay small. L1 also uses speed tricks that wouldn’t work if it was larger.