A microprocessor conforming to the X86 architecture is disclosed which includes a linearly addressable cache, thus allowing the cache to be quickly accessed by an external bus while allowing fast translation to a logical address for operation with functional units of microprocessor. Also disclosed is a microprocessor which includes linear tag array and a physical tag array corresponding to the linear tag array, thus allowing the contents of a microprocessor cache to be advantageously monitored from an external bus without slowing the main instruction and data access processing paths.