[Hawkeye]

Ok. It looks like my L2 cache is gone. Nope. Nada. It doesn't show up in benchmarks. Booting into OS 9, the built-in memory test reports problems with cache. The computer won't boot normally, etc.

(Interestingly enough Apple's Hardware Test CD and TechTool both report no problems with the logic board or processor.)

But I'm pretty sure something on the logic board is gone and I have a sneaking suspicion that it might have something to do with the L2 cache. If someone is interested in helping me troubleshoot more I'd appreciate it, but what I really want to know is ...

Could I really be running this machine with [no] L2? (I have noticed CONSIDERABLE drag as processes start piling up.)

AND

How long do you think I can run it before I kill the thing?

It's a $495 flat fee for Apple to replace the logic board and I'm not too excited about installing the fourth logic board in five years. I'm currently complaining to Apple and going through all that -- politely, but I think that's pretty lame to lose three logic boards in five years on a computer that has been PAMPERED!

Any input on anything here would be greatly appreciated!! And yes, I am a moron for trying to get by with what is obviously a messed up motherboard/processor but I am very broke right now.

Thanks again!!

[gobears]

okay here goes my take (just finished a hardware/software class @ my university):

The L2 cache, like the L1 cache, acts as a middleman between your memory and processor. blocks of data which are frequently accessed and data around that data will be placed in the memory. To put short, the cache is a small amount of very fast memory which through locality/spatiality will act as if you always had very fast memory.

However, if your cache goes, you will most definitely take a performance hit. But as far as damaging your machine, this should not be an issue. If your computer properly recognizes not having a cache, it will simply bypass it and go straight to memory. If your L1 is still functioning, hopefully on memory misses it is going to physical RAM versus the L2 cache - if this is the case, then you should be fine hope this helps

[Hawkeye]

That was pretty much my take on L2 cache as well. I just wanted to see if anyone thought the same.

Well, now I just need to convince Apple that a computer that burns through three main logic boards in just under five years is a bit rediculous.

This is a Ti PB 500MHz. It's a portable, but it's hardly lived the life of a portable. It's spent the vast majority of the past five years sitting comfortably atop a Road Tool's CoolPad on my desk. It's elevated for proper air flow so it should stay comfortably cool and it goes nowhere so there is minimal bumping and jarring. Physically, it's in great shape -- no paint flecks and the only scratches on it came from the Apple repair techs the last time they replaced the logic board.

Any suggestions on what may be causing this machine to burn through logic boards?