backside cache

hardware, processor An implementation of secondary cache

memory that allows it to be directly accessed by the CPU.

Backside cache is used by Apple Computers, Inc. in their

PowerPC G3 processor. Previous PowerPC processors used the

system bus to access both secondary cache and main memory.

In the PowerPC G3 a dedicated bus handles only CPU/cache

transactions. This bus can operate faster than the system bus

thus improving the overall performance of the processor.

The term apparently derives from the relocation of the

secondary cache from the motherboard to the processor card

itself, i.e. on the backside of the processor card.

(1998-09-10)