Controller with caching and non-caching modes

A device comprising:

• a processor core;
• a level-two (L2) cache memory configured to store a set of cache entries;
• an L2 cache controller coupled between the processor core and the L2 cache memory;
• a configuration register configured to store a set of configuration values;
• and
• a level-three (L3) cache memory coupled to the L2 cache controller that includes a set of memory regions, wherein:
• the set of configuration values includes a respective configuration value for each memory region of the set of memory regions that indicates whether to store data associated with the respective memory region in the L2 cache memory;
• the set of configuration values includes a first configuration value associated with a first memory region of the set of memory regions that is associated with the set of cache entries;
• and
• the L2 cache controller is configured to:
• receive a memory request associated with a set of data stored in the first memory region;
• retrieve the set of data from the L3 cache memory;
• provide the set of data to the processor core;
• determine whether to store the set of data in the L2 cache memory based on the first configuration value;
• determine a change in the first configuration value such that the first configuration value indicates not to store cache entries associated with the first memory region in the L2 cache memory;
• and
• based on the change, evict the set of cache entries from the L2 cache memory.

A method comprising:

• storing a set of configuration values associated with a first cache memory of a first level of a cache hierarchy, wherein:
• the first cache memory includes a set of memory regions that includes a first memory region;
• the set of configuration values includes a respective configuration value for each memory region of the set of memory regions that specifies whether to cache data stored in the respective memory region;
• and
• the set of configuration values includes a first configuration value associated with the first memory region;
• receiving, by a cache controller of a second level of a cache hierarchy, a memory request associated with a set of data stored in the first memory region;
• receiving, by the cache controller, the set of data from the first cache memory;
• determining, by the cache controller, whether to store the set of data in a second cache memory of the second level of the cache hierarchy based on the first configuration value;
• storing, in the second cache memory a set of cache entries associated with the first memory region of the first cache memory;
• determining a change in the first configuration value such that the first configuration value indicates not to store entries associated with the first memory region in the second cache memory;
• and
• based on the change, evicting the set of entries from the second cache memory.