OCR GCSE Computer Science Exam Questions

1.1 Systems Architecture

1.1 question 22

One computer has 64 KB cache and the other has 512 KB cache.

Explain how cache size can affect CPU performance.

MARKS

Mark scheme

Cache stores frequently/recently/next‑to‑be‑used data/instructions that can be accessed faster than RAM. More cache → better performance (too much can add lookup overhead).

Exam guidance

Do not credit merely ‘cache is fast’. Must link to faster access to frequently used items.