Using neuro-fuzzy methodology in cache memory design

Today cache memory is integrated into the design of all state-of-the-art co mputer systems. Their performance evaluation is gaining a lot of attention, because it significantly affects the performance of the entire computer sy stem. Fuzzy logic, which has proven to be a very powerful and efficient way of tackling problems in many engineering areas is used in this paper to pr ovide a novel simulation methodology for the evaluation of cache memory per formance. This methodology can be used during the preliminary stages of cac he memory design, to overcome the disadvantages of conventional methods. Ad vantages of fuzzy logic are used to provide a more simple, reliable and cos t effective approach for cache memory performance evaluation, compared to c onventional methods like trace driven simulation and hardware monitoring. M any complex approximations and time consuming testing of existing systems a re thus avoided. The designer can study the effect of changing different de sign parameters of cache memory and investigate their effect on the miss ra tio.