TestOut LabSim A+ Certification Practice Exam

What is true about processor cache?

1. L3 cache is typically unique to a core

2. L1 cache is shared between all cores

3. L2 cache is larger than L3 cache

4. L1 is typically unique to a processor core

The correct answer is: L1 is typically unique to a processor core

Processor cache plays a critical role in improving the performance of computing systems by providing a small amount of high-speed memory located closer to the CPU for quicker data access. L1 cache is designed to be unique to each processor core, meaning that each core has its own dedicated L1 cache. This setup allows the core to access its cache without having to go through other cores or shared memory resources, significantly speeding up data retrieval and reducing latency. This caching structure is essential for performance, as the L1 cache is the first line of defense for data storage and retrieval, before moving on to larger but slower caches like L2 and L3. While considering the characteristics of L2 and L3 caches, it's important to note that L2 cache is usually larger than L1 cache but is not necessarily larger than L3 cache, as L3 cache is usually designed to be shared among all cores and can vary in size based on the processor architecture. In contrast, the other options suggest inaccuracies regarding the nature of the cache hierarchy and its shared or unique allocation across cores, further reinforcing the validity of the assertion about L1 cache's uniqueness to each core.