eDRAM

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Embedded DRAM (eDRAM) is

level 3 cache
and conventional DRAM on the memory bus, and effectively functions as a level 4 cache, though architectural descriptions may not explicitly refer to it in those terms.

Embedding memory on the ASIC or processor allows for much wider

eSRAM
. eDRAM requires additional fab process steps compared with embedded SRAM, which raises cost, but the 3× area savings of eDRAM memory offsets the process cost when a significant amount of memory is used in the design.

eDRAM memories, like all DRAM memories, require periodic refreshing of the memory cells, which adds complexity. However, if the memory refresh controller is embedded along with the eDRAM memory, the remainder of the ASIC can treat the memory like a simple SRAM type such as in 1T-SRAM.

eDRAM is used in various products, including

game consoles and other devices, such as Sony's PlayStation 2, Sony's PlayStation Portable, Nintendo's GameCube, Nintendo's Wii, Nintendo's Wii U, Apple Inc.'s iPhone, Microsoft's Zune HD, and Microsoft's Xbox 360
also use eDRAM.

Use of eDRAM in various products
Product name Amount of
eDRAM
IBM
z15
00256+ MB
IBM's System Controller (SC) SCM, with L4 cache for the z15 00960 MB
Intel Haswell, Iris Pro Graphics 5200 (GT3e) 00128 MB
Intel Broadwell, Iris Pro Graphics 6200 (GT3e) 00128 MB
Intel Skylake, Iris Graphics 540 and 550 (GT3e) 00064 MB
Intel Skylake, Iris Pro Graphics 580 (GT4e) 00064 or 128 MB
Intel Coffee Lake, Iris Plus Graphics 655 (GT3e) 00128 MB
PlayStation 2 00004 MB
PlayStation Portable 00004 MB
Xbox 360 00010 MB
Wii U 00032 MB

See also

High Bandwidth Memory

References

  1. ^ Intel's Embedded DRAM: New Era of Cache Memory
  2. ^ "Hot Chips XXI Preview". Real World Technologies. Retrieved 2009-08-17.
  3. ^ "Haswell GT3e Pictured, Coming to Desktops (R-SKU) & Notebooks". AnandTech. Retrieved 2013-10-07.

External links

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