• KIPS Transactions on Computer and Communication Systems
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2012

The way-lookup cache and the way-tracking cache are considered to be the most energy-efficient when used for level 1 and level 2 caches, respectively. This paper proposes an energy-efficient set-associative cache using the bi-mode way-selector that combines the way selecting techniques of the way-tracking cache and the way-lookup cache. The simulation results using an Alpha 21264-based system show that the bi-mode way-selecting L1 instruction cache consumes 27.57% of the energy consumed by the conventional set-associative cache and that it is as energy-efficient as the way-lookup cache when used for L1 instruction cache. The bi-mode way-selecting L1 data cache consumes 28.42% of the energy consumed by the conventional set-associative cache, which means that it is more energy-efficient than the way-lookup cache by 15.54% when used for L1 data cache. The bi-mode way-selecting L2 cache consumes 15.41% of the energy consumed by the conventional set-associative cache, which means that it is more energy-efficient than the way-tracking cache by 16.16% when used for unified L2 cache. These results show that the proposed cache can provide the best level of energy-efficiency regardless of the cache level.