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Technology Stocks : C-Cube
CUBE 37.90+0.6%Jan 12 3:59 PM EST
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To: DiViT who wrote (29522)2/15/1998 4:59:00 PM
From: BillyG  Read Replies (1) of 50808
 
An SDRAM interface would make sense for CUBE. CUBE may have used EDO DRAM because SDRAM was not widely available at the time ZiVA was brought to market. Also, with 16 bit wide EDO DRAM, the use of 4 chips could result in a 64 bit wide data path, allowing the interface to move lots of data at slow clock speeds. SDRAM runs at faster speeds, and RamBus RDRAM runs even faster.

CUBE would have to think carefully before putting DRAM on the same chip as ZiVA.

The advantages of on-chip DRAM:
-- lower power consumption (because I/O drivers not required)
-- wide data paths not limited by pin count of chips
-- faster speed
-- uses less board real estate for complete DVD decoder solution
-- possibly lower price for complete DVD decoder solution
-- reduced cost and size of finished package (but larger die) because of lower pin count for chip --> lower pin count because no pins are needed for external address, data, and clock lines for external DRAM

The disadvantages of on-chip DRAM:
-- complex processing steps when manufacturing wafers that contain both logic and memory circuitry
-- complex process steps may result in lower yield and higher manufacturing costs
-- complicates the testing of finished chips
-- customer cannot take advantage of "price wars" between DRAM suppliers to obtain lowest price per megabit --> customer is locked into the price per megabit charged by CUBE

As you can see, there are many tradeoffs related to a decision to integrate logic and DRAM on the same chip. Nevertheless, an integrated solution will increase performace and lower power consumption --> the question is what the price differential will be.
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