Cache memory capable of adjusting burst length of write-back data in write-back operation

1. A cache memory comprising:

a write-back determination unit determining whether a block is a write-back block based on an n-bit dirty value of the block; and

a burst length determination unit determining a burst length of write-back data included in the write-back block based on a number of effective bits of the n-bit dirty value, an order of the effective bits with respect to non-effective bits of the n-bit dirty value, wherein each bit is in direct correlation with an updated block to be written back, and a minimum burst length, when the block is the write-back block.

2. The cache memory of claim 1 , wherein the burst length is an integer multiple of the minimum burst length.

3. The cache memory of claim 1 , further comprising a dirty value storing unit storing the n-bit dirty value.

4. The cache memory of claim 1 , further comprising:

a data storing unit storing data of the write-back block; and

a processor controlling the data storing unit to output the write-back data to a system bus of data of the write-back block stored in the data storing unit, in response to a determined burst length.

5. The cache memory of claim 4 , further comprising a write-back buffer storing the write-back data output to the system bus.

6. A cache memory comprising:

a write-back determination unit determining whether a block is a write-back block based on replacement information on the block and an n-bit dirty value of the block; and

a burst length determination unit determining a burst length of write-back data included in the write-back block based on a number of effective bits of the n-bit dirty value, an order of the effective bits with respect to non-effective bits of the n-bit dirty value, wherein each bit is in direct correlation with an updated block to be written back, and a minimum burst length, when the block is the write-back block.

7. The cache memory of claim 6 , wherein the replacement information comprises at least one of information on the block, frequency of accesses of the block, and data update time of the block.

8. A system comprising a main memory receiving and storing write-back data output from a cache memory via a system bus, wherein the cache memory comprises:

a data storing unit storing data of a block;

a write-back determination unit determining whether the block is a write-back block based on an n-bit dirty value of the block;

a burst length determination unit determining a burst length of the write-back data of the data of the block based on a number of effective bits of the n-bit dirty value, an order of the effective bits with respect to non-effective bits of the n-bit dirty value, wherein each bit is in direct correlation with an updated block to be written back, and a minimum burst length, when the block is the write-back block; and

a processor controlling the data storing unit to output the write-back data of the data of the block stored in the data storing unit to the system bus, in response to a determined burst length.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein, when the write-back determination unit further receives replacement information on the block, the write-back determination unit determines whether the block is the write-back block based on the n-bit dirty value and the replacement information.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the burst length is an integer multiple of the minimum burst length.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the burst length is an integer multiple of a value obtained by dividing the size of the block by the number of bits forming the n-bit dirty value.