Method and apparatus for saving power by efficiently disabling ways for a set-associative cache

摘要

A method and apparatus for disabling ways of a cache memory in response to history based usage patterns is herein described. Way predicting logic is to track consecutive misses to ways of a cache, i.e. hits/reads to other ways of cache. Based on the usage of ways and the non-usage of other ways, the way predicting logic determines if a way is to be powered down. In response to determining a way is to be powered down, the way predicting logic generates a power signal to power down an associated. Furthermore, upon a subsequent hit to a powered down way, the way predicting logic toggles the power signal to power up the associated way to ensure performance.