Fast DRAMs for sharper TV: new formats and features for digital television sets require inexpensive dynamic RAMs with extremely high throughput
Article Abstract:
Consumer applications such as high-definition television (HDTV) require more of DRAMs than computers do, and they can have distinctive requirements that are different from those of other applications. For example, to double a television's display rate, the receiver must write one video frame into memory and display it twice, at double the normal speed. This could be accomplished by doubling the memory, but the cost involved could be prohibitive. Video DRAMs provide serial input and output ports and work at the speeds required of today's TV; they can also be very cost effective, since they are not designed with random access, page mode or similar features. However, they do not yet meet HDTV's frame memory bandwidth requirements. Because DRAMs are still random access within a limited set of addresses, only the slower, normal-mode access times of the DRAMs are applicable.
Publication Name: IEEE Spectrum
Subject: Engineering and manufacturing industries
ISSN: 0018-9235
Year: 1992
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A new era of fast dynamic RAMs: chip makers are turning to innovative circuit designs to bring inexpensive dynamic memories up to speed
Article Abstract:
Fast, inexpensive DRAM chips are displacing static RAM chips as the memory processor of choice. Cache DRAMs, enhanced DRAMs, synchronous DRAMs and Rambus DRAMs all capitalize on wide on-chip buses, yet vary greatly in their die sizes, terminal characteristics and performance benefits. Cache DRAM maintains cache/main memory coherency through the use of fast copy-back. Synchronous DRAMs burst data sequentially from its wide internal bus at synchronous clock rates of 50- to 100-MHz, and they provide high sustained data rates while imposing long delays for single random reads or writes. Rambus DRAMs are intended for use in controlled environments where both transitions of a 250-MHz clock are used.
Publication Name: IEEE Spectrum
Subject: Engineering and manufacturing industries
ISSN: 0018-9235
Year: 1992
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic:
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