Patent attributes
N-way associative cache pools can be implemented in an N-way associative cache. Different cache pools can be indicated by pool values. Different processes running on a computer can use different cache pools. An N-way associative cache circuit can be configured to have one or more stripe mode cache pools that are N-way associative. A cache control circuit can receive a physical address for a memory location and can interpret the physical address as fields including a tag field that contains a tag value and a set field that contains a set value. The physical address can also be used to determine a pool value that identifies one of the stripe mode cache pools. A set of N cache entries in the one of the stripe mode cache pools can be concurrently searched for the tag value. The set of N cache entries is determined using the set value.
