DRAM vs. SRAM

• Cycle time of SRAM 10 to 20 times faster than DRAM

• For same technology, capacity of DRAM 5 to 10 times that of SRAM

• Hence

  • Main memory is DRAM
  • On-chip caches are SRAM
  • Off-chip caches (it depends)

• DRAM growth

  • Capacity . Factor of 4 every 3 years (60% per year)
  • Cycle time. Improvement of 20% per generation (7% per year)

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