Replies to post #72057 on Advanced Micro Devices Inc (AMD)

[j3pflynn]

Tenchu - SRAM is faster than DRAM, and ZRAM is apparently between the two, not fast enough to work for L2, but a large(and much denser than SRAM L2) L3 is much faster than main memory. If it's still accessible, there was a 4-part series/interview on ZRAM at digitimes, if not there was an article on it at lostcircuits that is still accessible.

[chipguy]

ZRAM only makes sense for AMD as an L3, and only then
as a honking big L3 for a high end server chip. That silicon
won't be shared for mainstream use. Is AMD ready to take
on Intel and IBM in low volume, high end server chips? Or
maybe AMD will do this with funding from Sun for a SPARC
replacement for Sun's mid to high end systems.

As far as ZRAM's small cell capacitance, that is simply a
circuit design issue. You keep the number of cells on each
bitline low, say 64 to 128 instead of 256 to 512 in a conven-
tional DRAM, to keep the read out signal manageable. And
you up the refresh rate to as high as necessary - the refresh
rate needed will depend strongly on maximum device junction
temperature.