the main memory miss rates

the cache miss rates

the access times of the main memory

the access times of the cache

AMAT =

Access time is measured by cycles

Miss Rate is measured by percentage

An 11-cycle average memory access time means that the processor spends …. cycles waiting for data for every … cycle actually using that data

Data stable while powered

Must be periodically refreshed

Non volatile

Inexpensive

Very Cheap

expensive

Bit Area => Small (1T & capacitor)

Bit Area => Very Small

Bit Area => Large (>= 6T)

Speed => Fast (Larger Arrays are slower)

Speed => Slow (Multiple Steps)

Speed => Very Slow (Mechanical)

Speed Hierarchy: Virtual Memory ---> Main memory ---> Cache memory ---> CPU registers