IBM Claims World's Smallest SRAM Memory Cell

nokiator writes "IBM issued a press release today claiming that it has built an SRAM memory cell that is ten times smaller than those currently available. My interpretation of the PRese in this release is that IBM will be able to build 256Mb or 512Mb SRAM chips or integrate 32MB or more SRAM into processor dies for cache applications in the future. Of course, showing some SRAM cell prototypes is a long ways from being able to manufacture this technology in a cost effective way. There is no information in this PR about the speed or power consumption of SRAM blocks that can be built with this new cell technology. This is not likely to be a potential DRAM replacement for mainstream applications as DRAM already offers more than ten times density compared to SRAM at much better cost."

Comments

These memory cells are so small...

[Anonymous Coward]

...they can only store zeros. They are working feverishly on scaling them up to store ones.

SRAM has plusses and minuses.

[Sheetrock]

As mentioned in the article, SRAM (Static RAM) is many times faster than DRAM (Dynamic RAM) while simultaneously offering a smaller footprint.

However, I wonder if the additional implementation requirements justify the benefits. Static typing is only found in certain computer languages, and programmers have come to rely on dynamic memory allocation offered by malloc() or similar routines. I suspect with careful design one could fully exploit the advantages present -- with software being cheaper than hardware, it could easily be well worth it in embedded or pre-fabricated devices.

The type of implementor that uses (dynamic) extreme programming methodologies may be left out in the cold, although I would like to suggest that would occur anyway to a person working without a blueprint. Regardless, it will be exciting to see how this develops from the embedded perspective...

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Correction: SRAM stands for "Synchronous RAM"

[fireboy1919]

You, sir, are the man.

You convinced at least five posters that you were serious while simultaneously spouting an illogical collection of computer-related jargon and utterly false statements. I expect to see you here again on April 1st.