TY - GEN
T1 - FlexRAM
T2 - 2012 IEEE 30th International Conference on Computer Design, ICCD 2012
AU - Kang, Yi
AU - Huang, Wei
AU - Yoo, Seung Moon
AU - Keen, Diana
AU - Ge, Zhenzhou
AU - Lam, Vinh
AU - Pattnaik, Pratap
AU - Torrellas, Josep
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - Major advances in Merged Logic DRAM (MLD) technology coupled with the popularization of memory-intensive applications provide fertile ground for architectures based on Intelligent Memory (IRAM) or Processors-in-Memory (PIM). The contribution of this paper is to explore one way to use the current state-of-the-art MLD technology for general-purpose computers. To satisfy requirements of general purpose and low programming cost, we place the PIM chips in the memory system and let them default to plain DRAM if the application is not enabled for intelligent memory. Since wide usability is crucial, we identify and analyze a range of real applications for PIM. Based on the requirements of these applications and current technological constraints, we design a PIM chip and a PIM-based memory system. We call the chip FlexRAM. We describe FlexRAMs design and floorplan, and the resulting memory system. Evaluation of the system through simulations shows that 4 FlexRAM chips often allow a workstation to run 25-40 times faster.
AB - Major advances in Merged Logic DRAM (MLD) technology coupled with the popularization of memory-intensive applications provide fertile ground for architectures based on Intelligent Memory (IRAM) or Processors-in-Memory (PIM). The contribution of this paper is to explore one way to use the current state-of-the-art MLD technology for general-purpose computers. To satisfy requirements of general purpose and low programming cost, we place the PIM chips in the memory system and let them default to plain DRAM if the application is not enabled for intelligent memory. Since wide usability is crucial, we identify and analyze a range of real applications for PIM. Based on the requirements of these applications and current technological constraints, we design a PIM chip and a PIM-based memory system. We call the chip FlexRAM. We describe FlexRAMs design and floorplan, and the resulting memory system. Evaluation of the system through simulations shows that 4 FlexRAM chips often allow a workstation to run 25-40 times faster.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84872090206&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84872090206&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1109/ICCD.2012.6378608
DO - 10.1109/ICCD.2012.6378608
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84872090206
SN - 9781467330503
T3 - Proceedings - IEEE International Conference on Computer Design: VLSI in Computers and Processors
SP - 5
EP - 14
BT - 2012 IEEE 30th International Conference on Computer Design, ICCD 2012
Y2 - 30 September 2012 through 3 October 2012
ER -