Hot way caches: an energy saving technique for high performance caches

摘要

A device is presented including a processor. A local memory is connected to the processor. The processor includes a hot way cache accessing process. A method is presented that includes accessing a memory. The method includes processing a first plurality of memory cells and a second plurality of memory cells in the memory. The method determines if a memory block is a last recently accessed memory block. The method determines whether a memory block accessed is a hit or a miss. The method accesses a lower memory level if the memory block accessed is a miss. Also, processing the second plurality of memory cells for an exact block if the block accessed is a hit but not the last recently accessed memory block. And, providing the memory block for additional access if the memory block accessed is a hit and is a last recently accessed memory block.