Abstract:

The efficiency of memory access defines the performance boundary of all contemporary computing systems. Each generation of processor architecture—x86, ARM, and RISC-V among others—implements unique internal mechanisms to translate virtual addresses into physical locations in memory. At the operating-system level, paging manages the illusion of contiguous memory, enabling isolation, security, and efficient use of physical resources. However, this layer of abstraction introduces latency that varies with the organization of caches, the structure of translation buffers, and the depth of the paging hierarchy.