The CAS latency can only accurately measure the time to transfer the first word of memory the time to transfer all eight words depends on the data transfer rate as well. A modern microprocessor might have a cache line size of 64 bytes, requiring eight transfers from a 64-bit-wide (eight bytes) memory to fill. Īnother complicating factor is the use of burst transfers. Because the CAS latency is specified in clock cycles, and not transfers (which occur on both the rising and falling edges of the clock), it is important to ensure it is the clock rate (half of the transfer rate) which is being used to compute CAS latency times.
ĭouble data rate (DDR) RAM performs two transfers per clock cycle, and it is usually described by this transfer rate. Likewise, a memory module which is underclocked could have its CAS latency cycle count reduced to preserve the same CAS latency time. In this case, the CAS latency alone determines the elapsed time.īecause modern DRAM modules' CAS latencies are specified in clock ticks instead of time, when comparing latencies at different clock speeds, latencies must be translated into absolute times to make a fair comparison a higher numerical CAS latency may still be less time if the clock is faster.
Due to spatial locality, however, it is common to access several words in the same row.
#Cas latency 10 vs 11 plus
For a completely unknown memory access (AKA Random access), the relevant latency is the time to close any open row, plus the time to open the desired row, followed by the CAS latency to read data from it. Unfortunately, this maximum bandwidth can only be attained if the address of the data to be read is known long enough in advance if the address of the data being accessed is not predictable, pipeline stalls can occur, resulting in a loss of bandwidth. īecause memory modules have multiple internal banks, and data can be output from one during access latency for another, the output pins can be kept 100% busy regardless of the CAS latency through pipelining the maximum attainable bandwidth is determined solely by the clock speed. Accordingly, the CAS latency of an SDRAM memory module is specified in clock ticks instead of absolute time. Synchronous DRAM, however, has a CAS latency that is dependent upon the clock rate. With asynchronous DRAM, memory was accessed by a memory controller on the memory bus based on a set timing rather than a clock, and was separate from the system bus. ( September 2020) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. This section needs additional citations for verification.
#Cas latency 10 vs 11 64 bits
One byte of memory (from each chip 64 bits total from the whole DIMM) is accessed by supplying a 3-bit bank number, a 14-bit row address, and a 13-bit column address. Each bank contains 2 14=16384 rows of 2 13=8192 bits each. Each chip is divided internally into eight banks of 2 27=128 Mibits, each of which composes a separate DRAM array. The desired row must already be active if it is not, additional time is required.Īs an example, a typical 1 GiB SDRAM memory module might contain eight separate one- gibibit DRAM chips, each offering 128 MiB of storage space. The CAS latency is the delay between the time at which the column address and the column address strobe signal are presented to the memory module and the time at which the corresponding data is made available by the memory module. This row is then active, and columns may be accessed for read or write. To access memory, a row must first be selected and loaded into the sense amplifiers.
This indeterminate signal is deflected towards high or low by the storage capacitor when a row is made active. When no word line is active, the array is idle and the bit lines are held in a precharged state, with a voltage halfway between high and low. This amplified signal is then output from the DRAM chip as well as driven back up the bit line to refresh the row. Each bit line is connected to a sense amplifier that amplifies the small voltage change produced by the storage capacitor. Sending a logical high signal along a given row enables the MOSFETs present in that row, connecting each storage capacitor to its corresponding vertical bit line. Each row is selected by a horizontal word line. Further information: DRAM § Principles of operationĭynamic RAM is arranged in a rectangular array.