What is the impact of cache coherency on multicore systems?

What is the impact of cache coherency on multicore systems?

Cache coherency ensures that multiple cores in a multicore system have a consistent view of memory, which is crucial for performance.

Why is cache coherency important for performance?

Without cache coherency, cores may work with stale data, leading to incorrect computations and increased latency due to frequent memory accesses.

What are the common protocols used for maintaining cache coherency?

Common protocols include MESI (Modified, Exclusive, Shared, Invalid) and MOESI, which help manage the states of cached data.

How does cache coherency affect system scalability?

Cache coherency can limit scalability as the overhead of maintaining consistency increases with the number of cores.

Can you explain the trade-offs involved in implementing cache coherency?

Sure! The trade-offs include increased complexity and potential performance bottlenecks versus the benefits of data consistency and correctness.