CPU cache speed query

[CurlyWhirly]

I have a Q9650 that comes with 12 MB (2x6 MB) of L2 cache and 4x32 KB of both L1 instruction and data cache.

After seeing http://processorfinder.intel.com/Details.aspx?sSpec=SLB8W I see that the L2 cache is running at the same speed as the CPU core(s)

This makes me wonder what speed the L1 cache(s) are running at - surely not faster than the core itself

I'm an inquisitive soul

 

[Justintime]

Same speed, lower latencies though. L2 cache has a history of sometimes being offboard i.e on seperate PCB and running at a much slower rate than the cpu clock, not on-die fullspeed as all modern cpus are so i guess its a throwback to mention that fact.

 

[CurlyWhirly]

Thanks for replying

Just had another thought, when you overclock the CPU I assume you overclock the L1 and L2 cache as well

 

[Justintime]

Yes, everything is tied to the clockspeed.

 

[CurlyWhirly]

Yes, everything is tied to the clockspeed.

Thanks for replying, I know I ask a lot of questions

 

[deshepherd]

Yes, everything is tied to the clockspeed.

On Phenom's the L3 cache speed is, I think, tied to the HyperTransport speed ... that's why for them there's definite different trade-offs between increasing multipliers, bus speeds etc as getting the L3 running faster can sometimes bring significant speed gains.

 

[Big.Wayne]

Yes, everything is tied to the clockspeed.

Hey Justintime,

would I be right in thinking that the clockspeed can never be faster than the cache?

i.e the fastest a current processor can run is as fast as its cache, once the cache MHz maxes thats it?