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kaiweiler
12-02-2007, 02:07 AM
This is kind of a software question but I figured the answer is actually more likely to come from here, but does anybody know a way to log L2 cache usage?
Thanks
clocker
12-02-2007, 02:23 AM
Never heard of such a thing.
kaiweiler
12-02-2007, 02:38 AM
hmm that's what I figured...
It was worth a shot.
I'm in the market of buying a new CPU and want to know if I'd notice the difference from 2x512kb to 2x1mb L2 cache.
The 2x1mb is only really better if I'm actually using up the 2x512kb....
clocker
12-02-2007, 03:23 AM
Must be an AMD chip to have such a small cache...
kaiweiler
12-02-2007, 04:09 AM
Indeed.
Broken
12-02-2007, 04:34 AM
Like above I guess you are talking about AMD 512kb x2 l2 cache vs. Intel 1mb x2 l2 cache.

Technically, it should not make a difference. AMD has an on-board memory controller so they can get away with lower L2 cache without lowering performance.

BUT

In all reality, last and current generation Intel chips are superior to AMD chips at the same price point and performance level.
Do yourself a favor and go Intel.
clocker
12-02-2007, 01:54 PM
Technically, it should not make a difference. AMD has an on-board memory controller so they can get away with lower L2 cache without lowering performance.

An advantage that AMD loses as Intel integrates the onboard memory controller in their next gen releases.
On a smaller die, to boot.

Game over.
kaiweiler
12-02-2007, 02:18 PM
I am looking to stay with AMD, and I am comparing two AMD cpu's.
One has the 2x512kb L2, and the other a few steps up but has 2x1mb L2 but obviously is a bit more expensive.
I just wanted to know if there was a way to tell if 2x512kb L2 would suffice. Apparently there is not.
From my understanding, RAM is for dealing with multiple processes, while cache is for dealing with intensive processes. I do not use my computer for anything extremely intensive, but do a fair amount of multitasking. I may play a game now and then, and tend to also have a browser or a messenger service open as well (praise dual monitors), but that would benefit more from RAM would it not?
clocker
12-02-2007, 03:10 PM
Dunno.

Safe Rule of Thumb..."More of everything is better."
kaiweiler
12-02-2007, 03:55 PM
Dunno.

Safe Rule of Thumb..."More of everything is better."

Money included...
But I think I may go for the 2x1mb cache anyway, why not eh?