[comp.sys.m68k] need explanation on 68040 cache

ddyer@hubcap.clemson.edu (Doug) (04/16/91)

Hello,
	Of the papers I have read, I can't seem to pin down for certain
some things about the 68040 on-chip cache.  If anyone could help, I would
appreciate it.

	1) what is the cache-line replacement algorithm? LRU? Random?
	   All I have found was a mention that the DMEMC was responsible
	   for the selection of the line to be replaced.

	2) What is the address resolution of the cache? Looking at the
	   diagrams on the cache the bits 9-4 of the page offset are used
	   as an index into the cache, leaving bits 3-0 for block offset
	   (and 11, 10, opt12 are appended to the address translation).
	   The cache is 32 bits (lw) with a dirty bit for each lw, which
	   seems that only a lw may be accessed, but 4 bits (3-0) can
	   access 16 bytes - the line length. Does the IU know what to
	   do with the lw chunk -assuming the cache deals only with lws?

If I got it all wrong, set this lost soul on the correct path, please!
E-MAIL to ddyer@hubcap.clemson.edu   (yeah, another .edu guy)
-- 
 Doug Dyer        ddyer@hubcap.clemson.edu 

ddyer@hubcap.clemson.edu (Doug) (04/16/91)

ddyer@hubcap.clemson.edu (Doug) writes:

>	   The cache is 32 bits (lw) with a dirty bit for each lw, which
	        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>	   seems that only a lw may be accessed, but 4 bits (3-0) can
>	   access 16 bytes - the line length. Does the IU know what to

I meant to say "The cache LINE is 4 32-bit long words". 

-- 
 Doug Dyer        ddyer@hubcap.clemson.edu