benchmark needed: does onboard cache on/off affect k6-2+/k6-3+ performance? \ VOGONS

benchmark needed: does onboard cache on/off affect k6-2+/k6-3+ performance?

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First post, by noshutdown

Posted on 2012-02-03, 16:18

noshutdown Offline

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we know that k6-2+/k6-3+ have on-die cache, which is smaller but a lot faster than that onboard cache. on the other hand, onboard cache's bandwidth is only about 50% faster than accessing sdram and looks really pitiful, probably limited by the socket7 bus.

don't show me that speedsys bandwidth chart, i want to see actual benchmark results like superpi, 3dmark, quake(2) and so on.

Reply 1 of 3, by nemesis

Posted on 2012-02-04, 17:28

nemesis Offline

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Unfortunatly, I'm still awaiting parts to stabily run my Super 7 again with my K6-2E+ 570, but I have run benchmarks in the past and found that by disabling the cpu cache, it slows down much more than by disabling the onboard cache.
The system used was the above CPU paired with an FIC 503+ motherboard and 256MB PC133 RAM. I'm not sure if the motherboard would make a difference in the tests (mine is the 2MB L2 cache version).

Reply 2 of 3, by noshutdown

Posted on 2012-02-08, 15:38

noshutdown Offline

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anyone else into this? i want to see results...

Reply 3 of 3, by swaaye

Posted on 2012-02-08, 17:28

swaaye Offline

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K6Plus forumgoers usually disable the mobo cache so they can crank the FSB up to 124+ MHz and boost RAM performance. Personally I've never noticed anything tangible from the mobo cache when using a K6 CPU w/ on die L2.

thoughts-
-Most apps and games of that time probably target a small L2 cache. It's likely the L1 and L2 of a K6+ are adequate for them.
-The L3 is stupid slow relative to the on-die caches.
-Third tier cache is not often very beneficial even today outside of multithreaded apps where the CPUs share data through it.

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