Improving Cache Performance Via Active Management

Abstract

This dissertation analyzes a way to improve cache performance via active management of a target cache space. As microprocessor speeds continue to grow faster than memory subsystem speeds, minimizing the average data access time grows in importance. As current data caches are often poorly and inefficiently managed, a good management technique can improve the average data access time. Cache management involves two main processes: block allocation decisions and block replacement decisions. Active block allocation can be performed most efficiently in multilateral caches (several distinct data stores with disjoint contents placed in parallel within L1), where blocks exhibiting particular characteristics can be placed in the appropriate store. To aid in our evaluation of different active block management schemes, we have developed a multilateral cache simulator, mlcach...