Why AMD's L2 only has 2MB maximum?

Question

Even if it is a high-end product, AMD's L2 cache size only featured 2MB.
On the other hand, Intel's L2 cache size can reach 12MB.

Is this a disadvantage of AMD?

Answer 1

That's why AMD have their HT= Hyper Transport. What AMD's HT does is that they incorporate the memory controller into the CPU. In layman's term, this means faster memory access. This is to compensate for the lack of cache, as since the lesser cache you have, the more frequent you have to access your memory for data instead of having them readily available in the Cache.

Intel doesn't yet incorporate their memory controller into CPU, because they have large cache.

Why this happens is because Intel has been, for a very long time already, very strong at cache implimentation.

larger cache doesnt meant faster performance. The larger the cache is, the harder it is for the cache to work faster. Imagine if you have to search a file in a box, as compare to searching and retrieving a file from a large warehouse.

If you wants to make larger cache, you have to make sure you can still access it quickly and read/write to it quickly as well. Intel can do this, that's why they can afford to impliment large cache without much penalty.

AMD can impliment 12MB too if they wants, but they don't have the technology to do so without the penalty. If they do so, their cache is going to take more cycle to access data in it, and the CPU ended up waiting longer for the cache to do its job. Disasterous consequence.

But now AMD is slow not because of that. It's the wrong concept many ppl get. AMD are compensating the lack of cache with their intergrated memory controller.

But AMD is slow simply because Intel came up with a killer architecture, called Core, which is used in today's Core2Duo and Core2Quad

Answer 2

For the guy who said he never seen an intel processor that has more than 4mb of l2 cache. Their current quadcore line carry up to 8MB, they have been around for a year. On Nov 12 2007, their penryn line will come out and carry at least 12MB

Answer 3

Yes big disadvantage, I used to love AMD, but their cpus don't offer much right now!

My Quad Core Q6600 has 2 x 4MB of Cache,
and the upcoming Intel Quad chips will have 2 x 6MB = 12MB of cache!

Answer 4

Which processor's are you asking about, my old AMD one has 512kb of L2, newer one's go up from there. Haven't seen an Intel going up to 12MB. 4 yes.