Cache Size vs cpu speed

[OpheliaButt]

Hey there-
I'm trying to upgrade, & have a question: which has more of a real-world effect on performance, larger cache or processor speed?
In particular, is there a difference in performance between a PIII 600mhz 256 L2 and a PIII 550mhz 512 L2? Maybe the difference is negligable?
I'm planning on 768mb SDRAM PC100(3 x 256 max)on an Asus P2B (PIII600mhz max).
I'm primarily concerned with large audio & graphics files. Any info would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!

[kenja]

(I'm not a Pentium expert, but: )The 512kB L2 on the 550MHz operates at half the processor speed. The 600E has an on-die 256kB L2 running at full processor speed. I assume you don't want a socket-to-slot adapter, so... I'd recommend getting the Pentium III 600E.

Intel (http://developer.intel.com/design/PentiumIII/prodbref/)

[iisbob]

kenja's right-it's not so much the cache size that's important as to what speed it operates at.

Example: Athlon's have an L1 cache of 64k and an L2 cache of 256k-both run at full CPu speed, so though they are smaller than say the PIII's cache-because they run at the same speed of the CPU, they are accessed much quicker.

Think of it this way; it's easier-and quicker-for you to drink from one full glass at a time, than from two. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif




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iisbob
"Bachelors should be heavily taxed. It's not fair that some men should be happier than others."
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