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US 6,523,092 B1Granted
Cache line replacement policy enhancement to avoid memory page thrashing
AssigneeIntel Corporation
InventorBlaise B. Fanning
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for a cache line replacement policy enhancement to avoid memory page thrashing. The method of one embodiment comprises comparing a memory request address with cache tags to determine if any cache entry in set ‘n’ can match the address. The address is masked to determine if a thrash condition exists. Allocation to set ‘n’ is discouraged if a thrash condition is present.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- comparing a memory request address with cache tags to determine if any cache entry in set ‘n’ can match said address;
- masking said address to determine if a thrash condition exists;
- and
- discouraging allocation to set ‘n’ if a thrash condition is present.
1 more element
An apparatus comprising:
- a comparator circuit to compare a memory request address with cache tags from set ‘n’, said comparator circuit to determine whether a cache entry in said set ‘n’ matches said memory request address, said comparator circuit to output a memory address of any matched entries;
- and
- a mask circuit coupled to said comparator circuit, said mask circuit to mask an outputted memory address and to determine whether said outputted memory address can cause a thrash condition.
A system comprising:
- a processor coupled to a cache;
- a memory coupled to said cache;
- a cache controller coupled to said cache and said processor, said cache controller comprising:
- a comparator circuit to compare a memory request address with cache tags from set ‘n’, said comparator circuit to determine whether a cache entry in said set ‘n’ matches said memory request address, said comparator circuit to output a memory address of any matched entries;
- and
- a mask circuit coupled to said comparator circuit, said mask circuit to mask an outputted memory address and to determine whether said outputted memory address can cause a thrash condition.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.