Processor-in-memory
Encyclopedia
A Processor-in-memory refers to a computer processor (CPU) tightly coupled to memory
, generally on the same silicon chip
.
The chief goal of merging the processing and memory components in this way is to reduce memory latency and increase bandwidth
. Alternatively reducing the distance that data needs to be moved reduces the power requirements of a system. Much of the complexity (and hence power consumption) in current processors stems from strategies to deal with avoiding memory stalls.
was fabricated into a DRAM
chip to improve PUSH and POP. FORTH
is a Stack-oriented programming language
and this improved its efficiency.
The Transputer also had large on chip memory given that it was made in the early 1980s making it essentially a Processor-in-memory.
Notable PIM projects include the University of California, Berkeley
IRAM project or the University of Notre Dame
PIM effort.
Computer memory
In computing, memory refers to the physical devices used to store programs or data on a temporary or permanent basis for use in a computer or other digital electronic device. The term primary memory is used for the information in physical systems which are fast In computing, memory refers to the...
, generally on the same silicon chip
Integrated circuit
An integrated circuit or monolithic integrated circuit is an electronic circuit manufactured by the patterned diffusion of trace elements into the surface of a thin substrate of semiconductor material...
.
The chief goal of merging the processing and memory components in this way is to reduce memory latency and increase bandwidth
Bandwidth (computing)
In computer networking and computer science, bandwidth, network bandwidth, data bandwidth, or digital bandwidth is a measure of available or consumed data communication resources expressed in bits/second or multiples of it .Note that in textbooks on wireless communications, modem data transmission,...
. Alternatively reducing the distance that data needs to be moved reduces the power requirements of a system. Much of the complexity (and hence power consumption) in current processors stems from strategies to deal with avoiding memory stalls.
Examples
In the 1980s, a tiny CPU that executed FORTHForth
Forth is a structured, imperative, reflective, concatenative, extensible, stack-based computer programming language and programming environment...
was fabricated into a DRAM
Dram
Dram or DRAM may refer to:As a unit of measure:* Dram , an imperial unit of mass and volume* Armenian dram, a monetary unit* Dirham, a unit of currency in several Arab nationsOther uses:...
chip to improve PUSH and POP. FORTH
Forth
Forth is a structured, imperative, reflective, concatenative, extensible, stack-based computer programming language and programming environment...
is a Stack-oriented programming language
Stack-oriented programming language
A stack-oriented programming language is one that relies on a stack machine model for passing parameters. Several programming languages fit this description, notably Forth, RPL, PostScript, and also many Assembly languages ....
and this improved its efficiency.
The Transputer also had large on chip memory given that it was made in the early 1980s making it essentially a Processor-in-memory.
Notable PIM projects include the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
IRAM project or the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
PIM effort.