Final answer:
To convert the physical address ba9e78h to binary, it is 101110101001111001111000, but we cannot specify word, set index, and tag fields without the detailed cache parameters. The set index in the binary address would indicate which set the cache controller approached.
Step-by-step explanation:
To convert the given hexadecimal physical address ba9e78h to binary, we start by mapping each hexadecimal digit to its corresponding 4-bit binary value:
- B (in hex) is 1011 (in binary)
- A (in hex) is 1010 (in binary)
- 9 (in hex) is 1001 (in binary)
- E (in hex) is 1110 (in binary)
- 7 (in hex) is 0111 (in binary)
- 8 (in hex) is 1000 (in binary)
So the full binary address is 101110101001111001111000. To determine the word, set index, and tag fields, we need to understand the cache parameters, often described as a configuration: cache size, block size, associativity, etc. However, without the specific cache parameters detailed in the question, we cannot accurately split the address into the word, set index, and category. Generally, the last few bits (equal to the logarithm of the block size) are used for the word/byte within a block, the next few bits (equal to the logarithm of the number of sets) are the set index, and the remaining bits are the tag.
Concerning question 4.2.3, which asks 'which set did the cache controller approach', the set index field of the address would be used to determine the set approached by the cache controller.