A Self-Tuning Configurable Cache

The memory hierarchy of a system can consume up to 50% of microprocessor system power. Previous work has shown that tuning a configurable cache to a particular application can reduce memory subsystem energy by 62% on average. We introduce a self-tuning cache that performs transparent runtime cache tuning, thus relieving the application designer and/or compiler from predetermining an application's cache configuration. The self-tuning cache applies tuning at a determined tuning interval. A good interval balances tuning process energy overhead against the energy overhead of running in a sub-optimal cache configuration, which we show wastes much energy. We present a self-tuning cache that dynamically varies the tuning interval, resulting in average energy reduction of as much as 29%, and within 11% of the energy savings of an optimal self-tuner tuning at ? of the phase interval and within 13% of the oracle. Categories and Subject Descriptors B.3 [Memory Structures]: Performance Analy...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2007
• Where: DAC
• Authors: Ann Gordon-Ross, Frank Vahid
• Keywords: DAC 2007, Design Automation, Keywords Configurable Cache, Self-tuning Cache Applies, Tuning Interval