Development of a new prediction algorithm and a simulator for the Predictive Read Cache (PRC)
By: F. Nadir Altmisdort
Publisher: Naval Postgraduate School; Available from National Technical Information Service
Published: 1996
Place of publication: Monterey, Calif; Springfield, Va
Language: eng
Number of pages: 131
Description: Efforts to bridge the cycle-time gap between high-end microprocessors and low-speed main memories have led to      a hierarchical approach in memory subsystem design. The predictive read cache (PRC) has been developed as an      alternative way to overcome the speed discrepancy without incurring the hardware cost of a second-level cache.      Although the PRC can provide an improvement over a memory hierarchy using only a first-level cache, previous      studies have shown that its performance is degraded due to the poor locality of reference caused by program      branches, subroutine calls, and context switches. This thesis develops a new prediction algorithm that allows the      PRC to track the miss patterns of the first-level cache, even with programs exhibiting poor locality. It presents      PRC design alternatives and hardware cost estimates for the implementation of the new algorithm. The architectural      support needed from the underlying microprocessor is also discussed. The second part of the thesis involves the      development of a memory hierarchy simulator and an address-trace conversion program to perform trace-driven      simulations of the PRC. Using address traces captured from a SPARC-based computer system, the simulations      show that the new prediction algorithm provides a significant improvement in the PRC performance. This makes      the PRC ideal for embedded systems in space-based, weapons-based and portable/mobile computing      applications.
Notes: Thesis advisor(s): Douglas J. Fouts.

"September 1996."

Thesis (M.S. in Electrical Engineering) Naval Postgraduate School, September 1996.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 127-128)

Approved for public release; distribution unlimited.

Also available online.

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Turkish Navy author.

dk/dk cc:9996 3/10/97