False Sharing - DZone Java

False Sharing - DZone Java

Memory is stored within the cache system in units know as cache lines.  Cache lines are a power of 2 of contiguous bytes which are typically 32-256 in size.  The most common cache line size is 64 bytes.   False sharing is a term which applies when threads unwittingly impact the performance of each other while modifying independent variables sharing the same cache line.  Write contention on cache lines is the single most limiting factor on achieving scalability for parallel threads of execution in an SMP system.  I've heard false sharing described as the silent performance killer because it is far from obvious when looking at code.

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