Compaq EV67 User Manual

Page of 356
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Cache and External Interfaces
Alpha 21264/EV67 Hardware Reference Manual
Bcache Port
4.7.10.2 System Probes and SysDc Commands
Ordering of cache transactions at the system serialization point must be reflected  in the 
21264/EV67 cache system. Table 4–34 shows the rules that a system must follow to 
control the order of cache status update within the 21264/EV67 cache structures 
(including the VAF) at the 21264/EV67 pins.
4.8 Bcache Port
The 21264/EV67 supports a second-level cache (Bcache) with 64-byte blocks. The 
Bcache size can be 1MB, 2MB, 4MB, 8MB, or 16MB. The Bcache port has a 144-bit 
data bus that is used for data transfers between the 21264/EV67 and the Bcache. All 
Bcache control and address signal lines are clocked synchronously on Bcache clock cycle 
boundaries. 
Table 4–34 Rules for System Control of Cache Status Update Order 
First
Second
Rule
Probe
Probe
To control the sequence of cache status updates between probes, systems 
can present the probes in order to the 21264/EV67, and the 21264/EV67 
will update the appropriate cache state (including the VAF) in order.
Probe
SysDc MAF
To ensure that a probe updates the internal cache status before a SysDc 
MAF transaction (including fills and ChangeToDirtySuccess commands), 
systems must wait for the probe response before presenting the SysDc 
MAF command to the 21264/EV67. To ensure that a probe updates a VAF 
entry before a SysDc VAF (release buffer), systems must wait for the 
probe response.
Probe
SysDc VAF
Same as Probe/SysDc MAF, above.
SysDc MAF
Probe
To ensure that a SysDc MAF command updates the 21264/EV67 cache 
system before a probe to the same address, systems must deliver the D1 
(the second QW of data delivered to the 21264/EV67) before or in the 
same cycle as the A3 of the probe (the last cycle of the 4-cycle probe com-
mand). This rule also applies to ChangeToDirtySuccess commands that 
have a virtual D0 and D1 transaction.
SysDc MAF
SysDc MAF
SysDc MAF transactions can be ordered into the 21264/EV67 by ordering 
them appropriately at the 21264/EV67 interface.
SysDc MAF
SysDc VAF
SysDc MAF transactions and SysDc VAF transactions cannot interact 
within the 21264/EV67 because the 21264/EV67 does not generate MAF 
transactions to the same address as existing VAF transactions.
SysDc VAF
Probe
To ensure that a SysDc VAF invalidates a VAF entry before a probe to the 
same address, the SysDc VAF command must precede the first cycle of the 
4-cycle probe command.
SysDc VAF
SysDc MAF
SysDc MAF transactions and SysDc VAF transactions cannot interact 
within the 21264/EV67 because the 21264/EV67 does not generate MAF 
transactions to the same address as existing VAF transactions.
SysDc VAF
SysDc VAF
SysDc VAF transactions can be ordered into the 21264/EV67 by ordering 
them appropriately at the 21264/EV67 interface.