Enable L2Cache.....in Windows XP/2000

[Johnny_B]

checked mine, its already set to 200 /512..!!

[Toxicfume Veteran]

ahhh!!! sorry, i got it now ;)

Thanks, mine was set to 0!

[hardbag]

I have AMD duron 750mhz, what should be my l2cache?

[Cat Called Domino]

socket has 64 L2 and 128 L1.

so....64 buddy!

[mtgriffith]

Run the link I posted on page 1. It's from AMD and it works for the Duron too.

[OrangesOfCourse]

that link worked on my INTEL PIII.. so give it a try if you own intel based processer..

btw.. Not all PIII are 256.. mine is 512.. why? i have a 450 PIII slot.

laterz.. ;)

[zivan56]

Here is what I got with my laptop see here

[BigBoy]

Check out the following KB article:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...b;EN-US;Q183063

So - on older PII system you can hope to get few % of speed increase. This is not the only place where OS checks for the cache!

[iczman]

"This is not related to the hardware; it is only useful for computers with direct-mapped L2 caches. Pentium II and later processors do not have direct- mapped L2 caches. SecondLevelDataCache can increase performance by approximately 2 percent in certain cases for older computers with ample memory (more than 64 MB) by scattering physical pages better in the address space so there are not so many L2 cache collisions. Setting SecondLevelDataCache to 256 KB rather than 2 MB (when the computer has a 2 MB L2 cache) would probably have about a 0.4 percent performance penalty."

so basically this reg is useless for all our all-mighty-powerful comps... mmm

[zivan56]

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0

Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0

Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition version 4.0

btw, check my benchmark a few posts up to see what it does :D

[iczman]

but xp uses the NT core, remember?

[Sticktron]

For those fiddling with your SecondLevelDataCache value, here is the scoop from Microsoft.

"If the value of this entry is 0, the system attempts to retrieve the L2 cache size from the Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) for the platform. If it fails, it uses a default L2 cache size of 256 KB. If the value of this entry is not 0, it uses this value as the L2 cache size. This entry is designed as a secondary source of cache size information for computers on which the HAL cannot detect the L2 cache."

So, if yours is set to 0, no sweat... if Windows *needs* this information, it will grab it from the HAL or default to 256KB.

[mtgriffith]

What if your processor is a Duron with 64 kb of L2 cache? Does it cause a problem if it defaults to 256 kb?

[MxxCon]

  Quote

Originally posted by Sticktron

For those fiddling with your SecondLevelDataCache value, here is the scoop from Microsoft.

"If the value of this entry is 0, the system attempts to retrieve the L2 cache size from the Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) for the platform. If it fails, it uses a default L2 cache size of 256 KB. If the value of this entry is not 0, it uses this value as the L2 cache size. This entry is designed as a secondary source of cache size information for computers on which the HAL cannot detect the L2 cache."

So, if yours is set to 0, no sweat... if Windows *needs* this information, it will grab it from the HAL or default to 256KB.

thank you. that's what i've been saying from the begining.

if your processor is a Duron, windows will grap L2 cache amount from cpu and will set it properly.

unless you have really old system or malfunctioning system you don't have to worry about that reg...you have bigger problems:)

[Scorcho]

whew, another XP 'tweak' with negligible gains (see QoX 'tweak' - http://www.lockergnome.com/issues/daily/20011221.html). i heard the best tweak to make XP faster is to actually buy a better processor. sadly i haven't been able to back this up with benchmarks :(

[X3M]

I have mine already at 256.

[masterbug]

anybody knows what happens if its set to high.

Just wondering. Thanx

[MxxCon]

  Quote

Originally posted by masterbug

anybody knows what happens if its set to high.

Just wondering. Thanx

read this thread and you'll know

[masterbug]

sorry MxxCon, guess I over looked it

[skold]

mine was set at 256 .. (tbird 1200) no boost for me i guess ;/ heh

[steen]

  Quote

Originally posted by The Hillbilly Cat

From Tweaktown.com

The L2, or second-level, cache, is an integral part of your CPU. However, XP is very shoddy at detecting it, so setting it manually is sometimes necessary. It's easy to do, though, you simply have to navigate to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetControlSession ManagerMemory Management

in the registry and find the value SecondLevelDataCache. You must then adjust it to the value (in kilobytes) of the L2 Cache of your processor.

:) :devious: Hi again Angus. As another participant mentioned AMD has a great utility on their board which will tell you the siza and purpose of the L1 & L2 cache.

Cheers

:rambo: :)

[BiG DaWg]

I have an Athlon 4 with 256, tested with AMD's utility. Mine was set as 512. Should I set it back to 256???????????

[steen]

Hi there I will say no If you are using the util from AMD it should be right, otherwise try to email AMD.

All the Best

:) :)