SYSTEM FOR RESTRICTED CACHE ACCESS DURING DATA TRANSFERS AND METHOD THEREOF

Instructions involving a relatively significant data transfer or a particular type of data transfer via a cache result in the application of a restricted access policy to control access to one or more partitions of the cache so as to reduce or prevent the overwriting of data that is expected to be subsequently used by the cache or by a processor. A processor or other system component may assert a signal which is utilized to select between one or more access policies and the selected access policy then may be applied to control access to one or more ways of the cache during the data transfer operation associated with the instruction. The access policy typically represents an access restriction to particular cache partitions, such as a restriction to one or more particular cache ways or one or more particular cache lines.