Write Great Code

Chapter 11. Memory Architecture and Organization

This chapter discusses the memory hierarchy — the different types and performance levels of memory found in computer systems. Although programmers often treat all forms of memory as though they were equivalent, using memory improperly can have a negative impact on performance. This chapter discusses how to make the best use of the memory hierarchy within your programs.

11.1 The Memory Hierarchy

Most modern programs benefit by having a large amount of very fast memory. Unfortunately, as a memory device gets larger, it tends to be slower. For example, cache memories are very fast, but they are also small ...