L2 Cache question

[Seeker47]

This pertains to a comparison between two dual-core CPUs:

If we're talking about the same processor family, and the other specs are quite comparable, and no overclocking is planned: can one expect a significant performance advantage from having 2 x 1MB of L2 cache vs. having 2 x 512KB ? I would think so, but don't really know, which is why I'm asking. Assume this involves running your more demanding apps., or the sort of apps where L2 cache can make a real difference, as well as heavy multitasking.

[JohnnyMalaria]

It depends. If you are running an app that processes the key data in chunks of 512K or less then not really. If the chunks are bigger then may be. It also depends on how quickly the data can be pulled from main memory into the processors' caches (or shared cache in the 2 x nn case). e.g., if the rate limiting step is the retrieval of data from a hard drive then it may make no difference.

If you use a dual core with separate L2 caches for each core then that may also be better over the shared L2 case. Sharing a single cache can create a lot of "pollution" between the cores requiring more reads from main memory.

Heavy multitasking will pollute the cache quite quickly.