Random Access Memory (RAM) Technology
Why do computer professionals need to know about RAM technology?
- Processor performance is usually limited by memory latency and bandwidth.
- Latency: The time it takes to access a word in memory.
- Bandwidth: The avarage speed of access to memory (Words/Sec).
- As IC densities increase, lots of memory will fit on processor chip
- Tailor on-chip memory to specific needs.
- Instruction cache
- Data cache
- Write buffer
What makes RAM different from a bunch of flip-flops?
- Density: RAM is much more dense
- Speed: RAM access is slower than flip-flop (register) access.