PSEUDO LEAST RECENTLY USED (PLRU) CACHE REPLACEMENT

A multi-way cache system includes multi-way cache storage circuitry, a pseudo least recently used (PLRU) tree state representative of a PLRU tree, the PLRU tree having a plurality of levels, and PLRU control circuitry coupled to the multi-way cache storage circuitry and the PLRU tree state. The PLRU control circuitry has programmable PLRU tree level update enable circuitry which selects Y levels of the plurality of levels of the PLRU tree to be updated. The PLRU control circuitry, in response to an address hitting or resulting in an allocation in the multi-way cache storage circuitry, updates only the selected Y levels of the PLRU tree state.