Consider the following : 1. Small memory 2. Less expensive memory 3. Fast memory Which of the above are the characteristics of the cache memory?

Cache memory is a specialized high-speed storage area located within or adjacent to the CPU [1]. Its primary characteristics include being a small capacity memory that holds a subset of frequently accessed data from the main memory. It is significantly faster than main memory (DRAM), allowing the processor to access data at the highest possible speeds. However, cache memory is not 'less expensive'; it is the most expensive type of memory in a computer system per byte [1]. While increasing cache size can improve performance, it adds substantial cost to the CPU due to the complexity of SRAM transistors. Therefore, while cache memory is small (1) and fast (3), it is more expensive rather than less expensive (2), making option 3 the correct choice.

Sources

1. [1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/computer-science/cache-memory