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The offset field of a main memory address is used to determine:

A. if the cache entry is valid

B. if the cache entry is the desired block

C. the location of the desired data in the cache block

D. none of these

User DimonZa
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Final answer:

The offset field in a memory address is used to pinpoint the exact location of data within a cache block after it has been retrieved by a CPU.

Step-by-step explanation:

The offset field of a main memory address is used to determine C. the location of the desired data within the cache block. When a CPU accesses memory and receives a cache block, the offset specifies the exact location of the data within that block. The offset is part of a larger address structure that typically includes a tag, an index, and the offset itself. To illustrate, imagine a memory system where each cache block accommodates 32 bytes of data; the offset field for this system would specify which one of those 32 bytes is needed.

User Anna K
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