IBM announces new type of memory for cache

[YKhan]

DRAM would be about 2.5 to 3 times more dense than SRAM. However,
that's still not as impressive as ZRAM which would be 5 to 6 times
more dense than SRAM. Although IBM and AMD are partners and AMD and
ISI are partners, IBM & ISI aren't partners, so IBM doesn't get access
to ZRAM. I guess DRAM is the next best thing it could do, without
being able to do ZRAM. The fact that IBM is considering going DRAM in
its cache indicates to me that AMD would be justified in going ZRAM in
its cache, as cache becomes more capacity-sensitive rather than
latency-sensitive.

More memory coming to future IBM chips | CNET News.com
"IBM has a technology partnership with Advanced Micro Devices in which
the companies pool research and development resources, but AMD
declined to comment on whether it was planning to use IBM's embedded
DRAM technology in its own products. AMD has conducted its own
research into dense cache memory technology called Z-RAM through a
partnership with Innovative Silicon."
http://news.com.com/More+memory+coming+to+future+IBM+chips/2100-1006_3-6159172.html?tag=html.alert

 

[Del Cecchi]

DRAM would be about 2.5 to 3 times more dense than SRAM. However,
that's still not as impressive as ZRAM which would be 5 to 6 times
more dense than SRAM. Although IBM and AMD are partners and AMD and
ISI are partners, IBM & ISI aren't partners, so IBM doesn't get access
to ZRAM. I guess DRAM is the next best thing it could do, without
being able to do ZRAM. The fact that IBM is considering going DRAM in
its cache indicates to me that AMD would be justified in going ZRAM in
its cache, as cache becomes more capacity-sensitive rather than
latency-sensitive.

More memory coming to future IBM chips | CNET News.com
"IBM has a technology partnership with Advanced Micro Devices in which
the companies pool research and development resources, but AMD
declined to comment on whether it was planning to use IBM's embedded
DRAM technology in its own products. AMD has conducted its own
research into dense cache memory technology called Z-RAM through a
partnership with Innovative Silicon."
http://news.com.com/More+memory+coming+to+future+IBM+chips/2100-1006_3-6159172.html?tag=html.alert

Looking at AMD stock price chart, no wonder you are so relentlessly
flogging this ZRAM stuff.

Not like this is that new an idea. See patent 5784311

 

[Tony Hill]

DRAM would be about 2.5 to 3 times more dense than SRAM. However,
that's still not as impressive as ZRAM which would be 5 to 6 times
more dense than SRAM.

Yes, but on the other hand, eDRAM exists, ZRAM is still just
prototypes. Real world density and performance still remain to be
seen for ZRAM.

Although IBM and AMD are partners and AMD and
ISI are partners, IBM & ISI aren't partners, so IBM doesn't get access
to ZRAM.

Given IBM's enormous patent portfolio (including the patent on the
basic concept of ZRAM that Del pointed out), I would guess that it's
probably pretty much impossible for ISi to implement ZRAM without
getting some kind of cross-licening agreement with IBM.

If IBM wants ZRAM, IBM will have ZRAM.

I guess DRAM is the next best thing it could do, without
being able to do ZRAM. The fact that IBM is considering going DRAM in
its cache indicates to me that AMD would be justified in going ZRAM in
its cache, as cache becomes more capacity-sensitive rather than
latency-sensitive.

If anything the fact that IBM is still pushing for eDRAM vs. ZRAM
means that ZRAM probably still has a ways to go before being
practical.