Accessing the cache is faster than RAM, so more cache can greatly improve CPU performance.
If you’ve never paid attention to CPU cache before, read this before buying another.
What Is a CPU Cache?
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What Do the Levels of CPU Cache (L1, L2, L3) Mean?
The “levels” of CPU cacherefer to the hierarchy of cache memory built into a CPU.
The king of gaming CPUs blows much more expensive CPUs out of the water in gaming performance by offering ludicrous amounts of 3D stacked cache memory.
This hierarchy exists is to provide a balance between speed and capacity.
What Software Benefits Most From a Large Cache?
This can improve the performance of the software and reduce the time it takes to complete these tasks.
Video games can benefit significantly from a large cache too.
In a multi-core CPU, each core has its own cache memory.
Related:How Many CPU Cores Do You Really Need for Gaming?
This means that each core only has access to its cache, and not the cache of other cores.
However, this cache is typically much slower than L1 cache inside a specific core.
The use of shared cache can also introduce additional complexity and overhead in the CPU design.
Is More Cache Worth It?
The amount of memory seems so tiny, but it’s expensive!
The cost stems from cramming such a small, fast memory area into the processor die.
So is it worth springing for more cache as a selling point for your next CPU?
In other words, don’t worry about the on-paper specifications.
CPU designers are generally quite good at giving a processor the right amount of cache for its intended use.
