How Can I Determine the Size and Type of Cache on My System?

[itech4814]

How do I locate how large my cache is on the system and what kind it is, whether it be associative, direct, two way, or four way?

 

[Routaran]

download and run this program on your system, CPU-z
http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html

here's an example of what it does
http://www.cpuid.com/medias/images/en/softwares-cpuz.jpg

you can look up specific details on your processor once you know exactly what you have on your system.

 

[harborsparrow]

That program will tell you about on-chip cache. I'm not sure it will be able to tell about off-processor cache (typically L2). System board manufacturers and system integrators are often cagey about it, since the average purchaser hasn't a clue, and since the details can provide performance advantages over competitors.

So it isn't always easy to find out EXACTLY what's in there, or how its supported in peripheral hardware.