CS274: Computer Architecture - Cache (100 Points)

Assignment Goals

The goals of this assignment are:
  1. To design and manipulate a memory cache

Background Reading and References

Please refer to the following readings and examples offering templates to help get you started:

The Assignment

Direct Mapped Cache

What to Do

Sketch the following cache designs:

  1. A 64 kilobyte direct mapped cache from the DEC Station 3100, which uses one word per block and a write-through policy.
  2. A 1 MB 4-way set associative cache with 8 words per block.
  3. A 4 MB 8-way set associative cache with 32 words per block.

For each of these caches, map the following addresses. Indicate whether it is a hit or a miss, which (if any) block is replaced, and what words are moved into that block.

317, 67, 25, 8, 64, 256, 512, 78

Submission

In your submission, please include answers to any questions asked on the assignment page in your README file. If you wrote code as part of this assignment, please describe your design, approach, and implementation in your README file as well. Finally, include answers to the following questions:
  • Describe what you did, how you did it, what challenges you encountered, and how you solved them.
  • Please answer any questions found throughout the narrative of this assignment.
  • If collaboration with a buddy was permitted, did you work with a buddy on this assignment? If so, who? If not, do you certify that this submission represents your own original work?
  • Please identify any and all portions of your submission that were not originally written by you (for example, code originally written by your buddy, or anything taken or adapted from a non-classroom resource). It is always OK to use your textbook and instructor notes; however, you are certifying that any portions not designated as coming from an outside person or source are your own original work.
  • Approximately how many hours it took you to finish this assignment (I will not judge you for this at all...I am simply using it to gauge if the assignments are too easy or hard)?
  • Your overall impression of the assignment. Did you love it, hate it, or were you neutral? One word answers are fine, but if you have any suggestions for the future let me know.
  • Using the grading specifications on this page, discuss briefly the grade you would give yourself and why. Discuss each item in the grading specification.
  • Any other concerns that you have. For instance, if you have a bug that you were unable to solve but you made progress, write that here. The more you articulate the problem the more partial credit you will receive (it is fine to leave this blank).

Please refer to the Style Guide for code quality examples and guidelines.