Exploring the Potential of Phase Change Memories as an Alternative to DRAM Technology
Scalability poses a severe threat to the existing
DRAM technology. The capacitors that are used for storing and
sensing charge in DRAM are generally not scaled beyond 42nm.
This is because; the capacitors must be sufficiently large for reliable
sensing and charge storage mechanism. This leaves DRAM memory
scaling in jeopardy, as charge sensing and storage mechanisms
become extremely difficult. In this paper we provide an overview of
the potential and the possibilities of using Phase Change Memory
(PCM) as an alternative for the existing DRAM technology. The
main challenges that we encounter in using PCM are, the limited
endurance, high access latencies, and higher dynamic energy
consumption than that of the conventional DRAM. We then provide
an overview of various methods, which can be employed to
overcome these drawbacks. Hybrid memories involving both PCM
and DRAM can be used, to achieve good tradeoffs in access latency
and storage density. We conclude by presenting, the results of these
methods that makes PCM a potential replacement for the current
DRAM technology.
[1] S. Thoziyoor, J. H. Ahn, M. Monchiero, J. Brockman, N. P. Jouppi, "A
Comprehensive Memory Modeling Tool and its Application to the
Design and Analysis of Future Memory Hierarchies," The 35th
International Symposium on Computer Architecture, pp.51-62, 2008.
[2] Benjamin C.Lee, Egin Ipek et.al. "Architecting Phase Change Memory
as Scalable DRAM Alternative". ISCA-09, Austin, Texas, USA.
[3] Moinuddin K. Qureshi, Vijayalakshmi Srinivasan Jude A. Rivers
"Scalable High Performance Memory Systems Using Phase Change
Memory Technology" Proceedings of the 36th annual international
symposium on Computer architecture 2009.
[4] Ping Zhou et.al, "A durable and energy efficient Main Memory using
Phase Change Memory Technology" ISCA 2009
[5] A. Pirovano, A. Lacaita, A. Benvenuti, F. Pellizzer, S.Hudgens, R. Bez,
"Scaling Analysis of Phase-Change Memory Technology," IEEE
International Electron Devices Meeting, pp. 29.6.1-29.6.4, 2003.
[6] Y. Chen et al. "Ultra-thin phase-change bridge memory device using
GeSb." In International Electron Devices Meeting, 2006
[7] H. Horii et al. "A novel cell technology using N-doped GeSbTe films
for phase change RAM". In Symposium on VLSI Technology, 2003.
[8] Andre Seznec, "A Phase Change Memory as a Secure Main Memory,"
IEEE Computer Architecture Letters, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 5-8, Jan.-June
2010, doi:10.1109/L-CA.2010.2
[9] Matthew J. Breitwisch "Phase Change Memory", IBM/Macronix
PCRAM joint project aibm t j Watson Research Centre Yorktown
heights, New York USA 2008.
[10] Matthias Wutting "Towards Universal Memories
Exploring the Potential of Phase Change Memories" International
Symposium on VLSI Technology, Systems and Applications, 2007.
[1] S. Thoziyoor, J. H. Ahn, M. Monchiero, J. Brockman, N. P. Jouppi, "A
Comprehensive Memory Modeling Tool and its Application to the
Design and Analysis of Future Memory Hierarchies," The 35th
International Symposium on Computer Architecture, pp.51-62, 2008.
[2] Benjamin C.Lee, Egin Ipek et.al. "Architecting Phase Change Memory
as Scalable DRAM Alternative". ISCA-09, Austin, Texas, USA.
[3] Moinuddin K. Qureshi, Vijayalakshmi Srinivasan Jude A. Rivers
"Scalable High Performance Memory Systems Using Phase Change
Memory Technology" Proceedings of the 36th annual international
symposium on Computer architecture 2009.
[4] Ping Zhou et.al, "A durable and energy efficient Main Memory using
Phase Change Memory Technology" ISCA 2009
[5] A. Pirovano, A. Lacaita, A. Benvenuti, F. Pellizzer, S.Hudgens, R. Bez,
"Scaling Analysis of Phase-Change Memory Technology," IEEE
International Electron Devices Meeting, pp. 29.6.1-29.6.4, 2003.
[6] Y. Chen et al. "Ultra-thin phase-change bridge memory device using
GeSb." In International Electron Devices Meeting, 2006
[7] H. Horii et al. "A novel cell technology using N-doped GeSbTe films
for phase change RAM". In Symposium on VLSI Technology, 2003.
[8] Andre Seznec, "A Phase Change Memory as a Secure Main Memory,"
IEEE Computer Architecture Letters, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 5-8, Jan.-June
2010, doi:10.1109/L-CA.2010.2
[9] Matthew J. Breitwisch "Phase Change Memory", IBM/Macronix
PCRAM joint project aibm t j Watson Research Centre Yorktown
heights, New York USA 2008.
[10] Matthias Wutting "Towards Universal Memories
Exploring the Potential of Phase Change Memories" International
Symposium on VLSI Technology, Systems and Applications, 2007.
@article{"International Journal of Information, Control and Computer Sciences:59118", author = "Venkataraman Krishnaswami and Venkatasubramanian Viswanathan", title = "Exploring the Potential of Phase Change Memories as an Alternative to DRAM Technology", abstract = "Scalability poses a severe threat to the existing
DRAM technology. The capacitors that are used for storing and
sensing charge in DRAM are generally not scaled beyond 42nm.
This is because; the capacitors must be sufficiently large for reliable
sensing and charge storage mechanism. This leaves DRAM memory
scaling in jeopardy, as charge sensing and storage mechanisms
become extremely difficult. In this paper we provide an overview of
the potential and the possibilities of using Phase Change Memory
(PCM) as an alternative for the existing DRAM technology. The
main challenges that we encounter in using PCM are, the limited
endurance, high access latencies, and higher dynamic energy
consumption than that of the conventional DRAM. We then provide
an overview of various methods, which can be employed to
overcome these drawbacks. Hybrid memories involving both PCM
and DRAM can be used, to achieve good tradeoffs in access latency
and storage density. We conclude by presenting, the results of these
methods that makes PCM a potential replacement for the current
DRAM technology.", keywords = "DRAM, Phase Change Memory.", volume = "4", number = "10", pages = "1580-8", }