What is Cache Memory? How it work?
Today, in this post I will tell you what is cache memory and how much it is. Many of us are always connected to mobiles and computers. But many of us don’t know what cache memory is. For this reason, we will learn in detail about cache memory in this post today. What is cache memory and how many types of types does it usually be? What is cache? How many types of cache memory are there, etc.
In our computers, we usually know two types of memory. One is the primary memory called ROM (hard disk), and the other is temporary memory called RAM. But apart from these two, there is another type of memory that we have included in all these types of devices and that is cache memory. But many of us don’t know what cache memory is and how it works on our devices. So let’s know.
Table of Contents
What is cache memory?
Cache Memory is a chip-based computer device that acts as a temporary storage area to hold the necessary data in the CPU. This temporary storage device called cache is located very close to the processor. Cache memory is often referred to as CPU (Central Processing Unit) memory because it is usually located directly inside the CPU chip. It is connected to a separate bus (computer bus) with the CPU in a computer. Since it is very close to the processor, it is very small in size and its storage space is also very small.
Cache memory is more expensive than primary memory. Cache memory is usually 10 to 100 times faster than RAM, which can deliver output in just a few nanoseconds. The hardware used in the cache memory is called “High-Speed Static Random Access Memory (SRAM)”.
As I mentioned earlier cache memory is very low in a computer or mobile, which means that where your hard disk can be up to several hundred GB, this cache memory has two to three MB.
How does cache memory work?
The working of cache memory is quite simple. When we use it, cache memory stores our data or information. It reprocesses it back in the shortest and fastest time it needs.
In short, any of our data without cache memory will be output by a computer or mobile processor, but that data will reach us through the processor through the signal input device, then it will be active through signal RAM and delivered to the processor, then our work will be completed.
Cache memory stores various information that we input first, so whenever we want to revisit or process that information, it starts to be processed directly from the cache to the processor rather than the ram. Having cache memory allows us to run many things on our computer or mobile at the same time.
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How many types of cache memory are there?
So far we’ve learned what cache memory is and how it works. But there are many types of cache memory. Now let’s see what form this cache memory can generally be divided into –
Browser Cache
Most browsers store a variety of website data in cache memory. This means that when we visit a website, the various information of those websites is stored in the cache memory.
Because the next time we enter the same website, the processor can restore things in front of us very fast. And all CSS or java files of that website are stored in cache memory.
The cache memory stores all these data to make the CPU work. Generally, any website is created with Java, and CSS files, all of these files contain some files that makeup cookies. And these cookies usually contain different topics of any website. All of this information is stored in the web browser’s cache memory, either be it an image, a CSS file, or a variety of JavaScript types of JavaScript.
For this reason, when we need those websites a second time, it is possible to display them from cache memory without processing. This reduces the stress on other memory.
Here’s another thing to note that I mentioned earlier cache memory is usually added to two to three MB, but sometimes the cache data of an application we look at from 400 to 500 MB, you will think how this is possible.
Although the cache memory is very low, it can store any data in its RAM and hard disk memory. So all the storage we see is usually storage taken from RAM and ROM.
Memory Cache
When we start an application or project, part of that project is stored in our system memory or RAM.
As a result, since RAM is a fast-paced memory, it is not necessary to process that data from a hard disk or ROM, it is processed from a memory cache.
This process is especially seen in the case of some large-sized applications. For example, in the case of a video editing app, when we edit a video, even if we remove a short clip from the editor, we can easily bring it back.
This means that if it is removed from the editor, it is stored in cache memory, so there is no need to re-add the clip from the hard disk.
Disk Cache
For most hard drives and solid state drives or SSDs, we see a certain amount of cache memory. Usually, a computer processor has two to three MB or more cache memory.
But this cache memory on the hard drive or SSD is given as a fixed amount. For example, in the case of a 1TB hard disk, 32 MB of cache memory is provided.
This means that a certain amount of cache memory is given in the various disk storages of the computer or mobile so that it can be combined with the processor or CPU’s cache and the cache of these disks can be done at a faster speed than any work.
Suppose when we open a folder on the computer, if that folder contains a thousand types of information, it gradually starts opening up in front of us. After seeing that information, we close that folder.
This does not mean that the process data is deleted as soon as the folder is closed. They are stored in the memory of the disk cache.
If we need to reopen that folder, then as soon as we open it, all the data inside it will open automatically. This means that its process disk cache is stored in memory, so it opens a second time without taking much time.
Processor Cache
Processor Cache Memory The function of cache memory is to improve CPU speed and performance, usually divided into “levels” based on the accessibility of the CPU. Cache memory is divided into different levels, which are L1, L2 and L3.
L1 Cache: The L1 cache is also called the primary cache. It is very fast but relatively small (size 2KB to 64KB). It is usually located in the processor chip.
L2 Cache: L2 Cache is also known as Secondary Cache. Its capacity is higher than that of the L1 Cache (256KB to 512KB). The L2 cache stays on the CPU but sometimes it can also be on a different chip, in which case it is connected to the CPU by a dedicated system bus. If the CPU could not find instruction in the L1 cache, it searches in the L2 cache.
L3 Cache: The L3 Cache has been developed to improve the performance of the L2 Cache. The L3 cache has a capacity greater than L1 and L2 (its size can range from 1MB to 8MB) but it is slower than other caches. However, the speed of the L3 is twice that of the DRAM. In CPUs with multiple cores, it is usually seen that there is a separate dedicated L1 and L2 cache for each core but only one L3 cache.
Conclusion
Today in this article we learned about one most important memory for a computer or laptop called Cache Memory.
Cache memory is a very important issue that is required for all types of memory storage connected to the computer. If our memory will not be connected to the processor, it will take more time for the computer to process any data.
That’s why we need a lot of this cached memory on mobile or computers and even laptops. However, it should be kept in mind that cache memory alone cannot be fast. To make the device fast, there is a combination of several processes, which require cache memory.
I hope this post has helped you a lot. If you liked it share it with other people and if you have anything to know about it, please comment below.
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- I am Shivanga Kumar Gogoi, owner of the Multigyan.com website. I am a B.Tech degree holder and 21yrs old young entrepreneur from the City of Jorhat, Asam. By profession, I'm an instrumentation engineer, web designer, google webmaster and SEO optimizer. I have deep knowledge of Google AdSense and I am interested in Blogging.
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