Reducing conflicts in direct mapped caches

Abstract

A processor includes a core to execute a transaction with a memory via cache; and cache controller having an index mapper circuit to: identify a physical memory address associated with the transaction and having a plurality of bits; determine, based on the plurality of bits, a first set of bits encoding a tag value, a second set of bits encoding a page index value, and a third set of bits encoding a line index value; determine a mapping function corresponding to the tag value; determine, using the mapping function, a bit-placement order; combine, based on the order, second and third set of bits to form an index; generate, using the index, a mapping from the address to a cache line index value identifying a cache line in the cache; and wherein the cache controller is further to access, using the mapping and in response to the transaction, the cache line.