Advanced Transfer Cache

Critical to the increased performance and maximum power optimization of the mobile Intel® Pentium® III processor is an Advanced Transfer Cache—256K, full-speed, on-die, L2 cache. This cache is the high-speed memory between the processor and the main memory.

Why an on-die cache?
Incorporating the cache on-die with the CPU results in one component. Eliminating the need for separate components has significant positive results:

  • The 256K on-die L2 cache is half the size of the 512K external cache provided with previous mobile processors, yet it provides three times faster processor access, resulting in significant improvements in performance.

  • The streamlining of components allows for an increase in transistors, with over 28 million transistors provided on the 500MHz mobile Pentium III processor. An integrated cache means a reduction of connections which increases reliability.