Amd has 384kb cache on there Xp line of processors (128kb L1, 256kb L2). As for the pentium 4 it has exactly 532kb total cache (20kb L1 512kb L2) so there is a advantage the pentium 4 has with cache size. And the 20kbs of L1 trace cache is very fast and doesnt need to be massive compaired to the L2. With the upcoming prescott with 1042kb cache (20kb L1, 1024kb L2) it will be even more of a performance boost because the cache is a quick way to store small memory that runs at the cpu speed instead of storing it in the system memory, and then fetching it. So cache is a big deal in adding performance, sh!t look at the wonderful 1GHz Itanium 2 with 3MB (3072kb) L3 ondie cache. Most benefits ive seen is in photoshop or other multimedia programs where cache and system memory help a bunch, hope that helps man 😉
SSXeon
