L2-cache not detected by Win XP Pro Sp1.

[ddd]

Hello folks,

I've been running Win XP pro with a super socket 7 mainboard, AMD K6-2
500Mhz processor w/512Kb pipeline burst cache and 256 MB SDRAM for the past
8 months. It runs well enough but XP fails to recognize the L2 cache at all.
Every PC utility that I've run flags the lack of L2 cache as a problem. I've
used Sisoft Sandra, AIDA 32, and even the PC Pitstop site so it's fairly
certain that the problem is real. What can I do to get XP to utilize the L2
cache? Is this a known problem or just a quirk of my machine/XP Pro
combination? FYI...The machine is a 4 year old IBM Aptiva that originally
came with Win 98SE. XP seems to run as fast as Win 98SE did, but I can't
help but feel that it would run better if the L2 cache was recognized and
used. Any ideas anyone? TIA.

 

[Chris C]

Hi, if your PC is running at the speed you think it should be then why
worry? Maybe it's the diagnostic utilities incorrectly reporting the lack of
L2 cache?
Chris

 

[ddd]

Hi, Chris,
It's not running as good as it can, that's the problem. I don't think
that all of the utilities that I've run can all be wrong. It seems that
I've heard or read somewhere that Win XP has a problem recognizing the
proper L2-cache on some machines. I think that mine may be one of those
machines. That's the reason for my inquiry. Hopefully someone here has
the answer that I'm looking for. I've searched high and low trying to
solve this problem with no luck. IBM is no help. Hopefully this group
will be. Thanks for your time.

 

[GCameron]

if you still need a fix for this problem its fairly
simple as long as you dont mind going into the registry.
by default xp does not use the l2 cache but you can
enable this. i wont be held responible if YOU mess up
YOUR registry so make a backup first. goto run and
regedit then follow hkey_local_machine, system,
currentcontrolset, control, session manager, memory
management -now look for DWORD value secondleveldatacache
and right click it to modify and be sure to change the
base to decimal then enter 512 then change the base back
to hexadecimal click ok and exit regedit and restart yor
computer. i found this at
http://bbs.pcstats.com/pcstats/ under collins tips
hope this helps.

 

[Donald Link]

I do not think the lack of utilizing the L2 cache is no where near the
problem of slow response as much as the fact of slow processor, old
motherboard, and low ram. I would bet your hard drive is not over 4 gb.
Live with what you got or plan on saving money and upgrade to a decent
system. Hardware is your problem and most likely the failure to reconize
the L2 cash is age and BIOS than any thing else.

 

[ddd]

Thanks for the reply, but I've already tried that weeks ago. No
difference either way. The validity of that particular setting is in
question according to most Win XP tweak sites that I've visited trying
to solve this. See http://www.xptuneup.com/tip0050.htm#marker34 for
details.
again, thanks.

 

[ddd]

Thanks, Donald. I have several systems and the HD on this particular
system is 40GB. I run XP on most of them. This particular machine runs
it well enough for what it is but I think it would run it better if I
could find a way to get it to utilize the L2 cache. It's more of a
challenge than a necessity. There has to be something that I'm not
seeing. Probably something simple, thus my query here, as I've just
about exhausted every other avenue. Have a good one.