Cache Aging Policy Selection for Prefetching Based on Cache Test Area

摘要

The cache controller (105) applies an aging policy (111, 112) to part of the cache (110) based on the access metrics of different test areas (115, 116) of the cache. Thus, each test area implements a different aging policy. The aging policy for each region establishes an initial aging value for each entry in the cache, and the particular aging policy is based on whether the entry was placed in the cache in response to a demand or prefetch request from the processor core Aging can be set for a given entry. The cache controller can use the aging value of each entry as a basis for the cache replacement policy. [Selected figure] Figure 1