Geert Uytterhoeven <Geert.Uytterhoeven@CS.kuleuven.ac.be> writes:

>Turning off all caches slows down the system by a factor of
>about 12, so there really is a big leap between RAM access and '040 internal
>cache access.

Sure. But you shouldn't think that this is a factor of about 12 :)

Disabling the caches effectively kills the internal pipelining too
and even if the RAM could be accessed at the maximum bus speed you
would see a gain from the internal caches.

Regards,
-- 
                                Michael van Elst

Internet: mlelstv@serpens.rhein.de
                                "A potential Snark may lurk in every tree."