SK0-003 · Question #417
Which of the following statements is true about L3 cache?
The correct answer is D. L3 cache runs at the speed of the system bus.. L3 cache is the largest and slowest level of the CPU cache hierarchy, typically operating at the speed of the system bus.
Question
Which of the following statements is true about L3 cache?
Options
- AL3 cache operates faster than the system processor.
- BL3 cache runs at the speed of the processor.
- CL3 cache can deliver data in as little as 15ns.
- DL3 cache runs at the speed of the system bus.
How the community answered
(34 responses)- A3% (1)
- C9% (3)
- D88% (30)
Why each option
L3 cache is the largest and slowest level of the CPU cache hierarchy, typically operating at the speed of the system bus.
L3 cache is slower than the CPU and L1/L2 caches, not faster.
L1 and L2 caches usually run at or close to the processor's core speed, but L3 often runs slower, at system bus speed.
15ns is a very slow access time, typical of main system RAM latency, not high-speed CPU cache memory which operates in picoseconds or single-digit nanoseconds.
L3 cache is typically the largest and slowest cache level, often shared across multiple CPU cores, and it commonly operates at the speed of the system bus (Front Side Bus or equivalent) to bridge the speed gap between the CPU and main memory. This design allows it to serve as a victim cache or a shared cache for L1 and L2, but at a lower speed than the core itself.
Concept tested: CPU cache hierarchy and speed
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