New MacBoook Pro 2.8 processor uses L3 instead of L2 Cache?

[BluePAZ]

I was just looking at the specs of the new macbook pros processor using intels processor filter and when looking at the 2.53 part apple uses it says it has 6MB of L2 Cache, but when I look at the 2.8 part it says 6MB of L3 Cache. So is this a misprint and if not, what are the differences between L3 and L2 Cache? Also any thoughts or comments?

 

[Firanide]

I was just looking at the specs of the new macbook pros processor using intels processor filter and when looking at the 2.53 part apple uses it says it has 6MB of L2 Cache, but when I look at the 2.8 part it says 6MB of L3 Cache. So is this a misprint and if not, what are the differences between L3 and L2 Cache? Also any thoughts or comments?

As mentioned above, larger computers sometimes have another cache between the L2 cache and main memory called an L3 cache. This cache can be implemented on a separate chip from the CPU, and, as of 2004, may range in size from 2 to 256 megabytes. The benefits of an off chip L3 cache depend on the application's access patterns. High-end x86 workstations and servers are now available with an L3 cache option implemented on the microprocessor die, increasing the speed and reducing the cost substantially. For example, Intel's Xeon MP product code-named "Tulsa" features 16 MiB of on-die L3 cache, shared between two processor cores.

So, basically, it's another layer of caching on top of the L2 that possibly makes the computer faster, but it's application-specific. That's what I'm getting out of it at least.

 

[Anaxarxes]

I was just looking at the specs of the new macbook pros processor using intels processor filter and when looking at the 2.53 part apple uses it says it has 6MB of L2 Cache, but when I look at the 2.8 part it says 6MB of L3 Cache. So is this a misprint and if not, what are the differences between L3 and L2 Cache? Also any thoughts or comments?

It's a typo. Core 2 Mobile processors do not have L3 cache.

 

[TheCakeIsALie]

To OP:

How do you know that the 2.53 part is the P9500 and not the T9400? If you know for sure which one it is please let me know because I've been trying to find out about it for a couple of days. Post it in this thread if you know, thanks a lot.