Lesson plan
Universal memory
Universal memory refers to a computer data storage device combining the cost benefits of DRAM, the speed of SRAM, the non-volatility of flash memory along with infinite durability, and longevity. Such a device, if it ever becomes possible to develop, would have a far-reaching impact on the computer market. Some doubt that such a type of memory will ever be possible. Computers, for most of their recent history, have depended on several different data storage technologies simultaneously as part of their operation. Each one operates at a level in the memory hierarchy where another would be unsuitable. A personal computer might include a few megabytes of fast but volatile and expensive SRAM as the CPU cache, several gigabytes of slower DRAM for program memory, and Hundreds of GB to a few TB of slow but non-volatile flash memory or "spinning platter" hard disk drive for long-term storage. For example, a university recommended students entering in 2015–2016 to have a PC with: ::- a CPU with a 4×256 KB L2 cache, and a 6 MB L3 cache ::- 16 GB DRAM ::- 256 GB solid-state drive, and ::- 1 TB hard disk drive Researchers seek to replace these different memory types with one single type to reduce the cost and increase performance. For a memory technology to be considered a universal memory, it would need to have best characteristics of several memory technologies.…
Article summary
Universal memory refers to a computer data storage device combining the cost benefits of DRAM, the speed of SRAM, the non-volatility of flash memory along with infinite durability, and longevity. Such a device, if it ever becomes possible to develop, would have a far-reaching impact on the computer market. Some doubt that such a type of memory will ever be possible. Computers, for most of their recent history, have depended on several different data storage technologies simultaneously as part of their operation. Each one operates at a level in the memory hierarchy where another would be unsuitable. A personal computer might include a few megabytes of fast but volatile and expensive SRAM as the CPU cache, several gigabytes of slower DRAM for program memory, and Hundreds of GB to a few TB of slow but non-volatile flash memory or "spinning platter" hard disk drive for long-term storage. For example, a university recommended students entering in 2015–2016 to have a PC with: ::- a CPU with a 4×256 KB L2 cache, and a 6 MB L3 cache ::- 16 GB DRAM ::- 256 GB solid-state drive, and ::- 1 TB hard disk drive Researchers seek to replace these different memory types with one single type to reduce the cost and increase performance. For a memory technology to be considered a universal memory, it would need to have best characteristics of several memory technologies.…
Key claims
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.