WAY PREPARATION FOR ACCESSING A CACHE

摘要

For a memory access at a processor, only a subset (less than all) of the ways of a cache associated with a memory address is prepared for access. The subset of ways is selected based on stored information indicating, for each memory access, which corresponding way of the cache was accessed. The subset of ways is selected and preparation of the subset of ways is initiated prior to the final determination as to which individual cache way in the subset is to be accessed.

主权项

1. A method of accessing a cache comprising a plurality of ways, the method comprising:
storing access information for a first memory access indicating a subset of the plurality of ways, one of the subset accessed by the first memory access; in response to a second memory access to the plurality of ways:
determining the subset of the plurality of ways based on the access information; andpreparing the subset of the plurality of ways for access concurrent with determining a memory address based on the second memory access.