OPTIMIZED HARDWARE CLEANING FUNCTION FOR VIVT DATA CACHE

A VIVT (virtual index, virtual tag) cache (18) uses an interruptible hardware clean function to clean dirty entries in the cache during a context switch. A MAX counter (82) and a MIN register (84) define a range of cache locations which are dirty. During the hardware clean function, the MAX counter (82) counts downward while cache entries at the address given by the MAX counter (82) are written to main memory (16) if the entry is marked as dirty. If an interrupt occurs, the MAX counter is disabled until a subsequent clean request is issued after the interrupt is serviced.