Abstract: A DRAM for L2 cache is used in a computer memory hierarchy without compromising overall system performance. By proper organization and design, the DRAM L2 cache is many times larger than a SRAM implementation in the same technology, but without compromising overall system performance. The larger DRAM capacity compared to a SRAM gives a substantially better HIT ratio which compensates for any small degradation due to access time. To achieve this, it is essential to minimize the total DRAM access time as much as possible by the use of early select techniques and pipelining.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 7, 1997
Date of Patent:
June 27, 2000
Assignee:
International Business Machines Corporation
Inventors:
Richard Edward Matick, Stanley Everett Schuster