3.1 · Lesson 5 of 7
Cache
Syllabus 3.1.4
What this lesson covers
- Explain how cores, cache and clock speed affect performance
Key vocabulary
- Cache
- A small, extremely fast memory built into the CPU that stores frequently used instructions and data.
- L1 cache
- The fastest and smallest cache. Each core has its own.
- L2 cache
- Slower than L1 but larger. Each core has its own.
- L3 cache
- The largest and slowest cache, shared between all the cores. Still faster than RAM.
- Cache hit
- The data the CPU needs is found in the cache.
- Cache miss
- The data isn't in the cache, so it has to be fetched from RAM.
- Bottleneck
- When one slower part, such as RAM, holds back a faster part, such as the CPU.
Check your learning
- Quick check: 4 questions
- Key vocabulary test: 7 terms
- Activity 1: Match the cache levels · drag and drop
- Activity 2: Hits, misses and levels · 8 questions
- Activity 3: Cache quiz · 8 questions