Counter-based victim selection in a cache memory

Abstract

A set-associative cache memory includes a bank of counters including a respective one of a plurality of counters for each cache line stored in a plurality of congruence classes of the cache memory. Prior to receiving a memory access request that maps to a particular congruence class of the cache memory, the cache memory pre-selects a first victim cache line stored in a particular entry of a particular congruence class for eviction based on at least a counter value of the victim cache line. In response to receiving a memory access request that maps to the particular congruence class and that misses, the cache memory evicts the pre-selected first victim cache line from the particular entry, installs a new cache line in the particular entry, and pre-selects a second victim cache line from the particular congruence class based on at least a counter value of the second victim cache line.