What factors affect cache latency in computer systems?

What factors affect cache latency in computer systems?

Cache latency is influenced by several factors, including cache size, associativity, and the speed of the underlying memory.

How does cache size impact latency?

Larger cache sizes can reduce latency by increasing the hit rate, but they may also introduce longer access times if the cache is too large.

What is cache associativity?

Cache associativity refers to how cache lines are organized. Higher associativity can reduce conflict misses, improving latency.

Does the type of workload affect cache latency?

Yes, different workloads can stress the cache differently, impacting hit rates and thus affecting overall latency.

Can you explain how memory speed plays a role?

Certainly! Faster memory speeds can reduce the time it takes to fetch data from the cache, thereby lowering latency.