On the effective use of a cache memory simulator in a computer architecture course

Author

Rotitho, Hemant G.

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., Worcester Polytech. Inst., MA, USA

Volume

38

Issue

4

fYear

1995

fDate

11/1/1995 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

357

Lastpage

360

Abstract

In this paper, we describe how a cache memory simulator can be effectively used to enhance the understanding of cache memories in a computer architecture course. Various types of course assignments that are described in this paper require the use of the simulator to understand effects of varying different cache parameters on the system performance, to analyze cache memory designs, to synthesize cache designs, and to incorporate advanced caching concepts like victim caching, stall caching, and multilevel caching by modifying the simulator. Dinero, a cache simulator available in the public domain, has been enhanced and used in the course. Our experience of using the simulator is described

Keywords

cache storage; computer architecture; computer science education; digital simulation; educational courses; simulation; Dinero cache simulator; cache designs synthesis; cache memory designs; cache memory simulator; computer architecture course; course assignments; multilevel caching; stall caching; victim caching; Analytical models; Cache memory; Central Processing Unit; Computational modeling; Computer architecture; Computer simulation; Education; Programming profession; Random access memory; System performance;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Education, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9359

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/13.473156

Filename

473156