A method includes accessing a cache including a first cache block and setting the first cache block to a passive sub-state, where the first cache block in the passive sub-state is configured to be accessed or modified. The method also includes receiving at least one access or modification request of the first cache block and transitioning the first cache block from the passive sub-state to an active sub-state. The method also includes incrementing an ordinal cache activation count at an active cache counter in response to the transitioning, where the active cache counter is configured to track the activation counts such that oldest cache use counts are designated to be overwritten in the cache in an oldest-first fashion.