Hello.

I just stumbled across some differences between the cache sizes as noted in the computer summaries and the 'real' cache sizes of the used cpus. I haven't found anything in the forum search here, but I guess it has been asked before. ;-) Hope you don't mind asking.

• Is there any negative effect, if the cache sizes found by BOINC are not correct?
  
• Is the cache size only shown for information or is it somehow 'used' by BOINC to optimize performance?
  
• Can it / Should it be changed to the correct value?
  

Examples from my computers:

• Athlon64 3200+
  Cache according to BOINC: 976.56 KB
  Real L2 cache: 1,024 KB
  -> not quite right
  
• Athlon XP 2400+
  Cache according to BOINC: 256 KB
  Real L2 cache: 256 KB
  -> correct
  
• AMD K6-III
  Cache according to BOINC: 976.56 KB
  Real L2 cache: 256 KB
  (plus L3 cache with 2048 KB)
  -> way off
  
• AMD K6-2+
  Cache according to BOINC: 976.56 KB
  Real L2 cache: 128 KB
  (plus L3 cache with 512 KB)
  -> way off
  

As all wrong values read 976.56 KB, is this some kind of default value?

Thanks in advance for any improved insight. :-)

Regards

Alex

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I keep trying to attend a meeting of quantum physicists, but every time they agree on a location the appointed time changes and vice versa.


SETI.Germany: 0.3 billion credits

The cache detection does not really work, so all should come up with 1mb (the 976.56 number). What surprizes me is that you have one that does not show that number.

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BOINC WIKI

BOINCing since 2002/12/8

Thanks for the reply.

The one with the 'correct' cache size detected is running on Linux (Ubuntu 6.10), the other three on Windows (XP or 2k). Well, that's the most obvious difference at least.

Ok, this might be reason: I just checked this workunit from Docking@home. All three results reported are coming from Linux clients (it's my first D@h result which was credited, that's why I remember :-) ) and all seem to have correct cache sizes (at least all are reasonable for the cpu names given).

Maybe this is the reason for the lower credits on Linux systems compared to Win boxes :-) ... just kidding.

Alex