TY - GEN
T1 - Evaluating STT-RAM as an energy-efficient main memory alternative
AU - Kultursay, Emre
AU - Kandemir, Mahmut
AU - Sivasubramaniam, Anand
AU - Mutlu, Onur
PY - 2013
Y1 - 2013
N2 - In this paper, we explore the possibility of using STT-RAM technology to completely replace DRAM in main memory. Our goal is to make STT-RAM performance comparable to DRAM while providing substantial power savings. Towards this goal, we first analyze the performance and energy of STT-RAM, and then identify key optimizations that can be employed to improve its characteristics. Specifically, using partial write and row buffer write bypass, we show that STT-RAM main memory performance and energy can be significantly improved. Our experiments indicate that an optimized, equal capacity STT-RAM main memory can provide performance comparable to DRAM main memory, with an average 60% reduction in main memory energy.
AB - In this paper, we explore the possibility of using STT-RAM technology to completely replace DRAM in main memory. Our goal is to make STT-RAM performance comparable to DRAM while providing substantial power savings. Towards this goal, we first analyze the performance and energy of STT-RAM, and then identify key optimizations that can be employed to improve its characteristics. Specifically, using partial write and row buffer write bypass, we show that STT-RAM main memory performance and energy can be significantly improved. Our experiments indicate that an optimized, equal capacity STT-RAM main memory can provide performance comparable to DRAM main memory, with an average 60% reduction in main memory energy.
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U2 - 10.1109/ISPASS.2013.6557176
DO - 10.1109/ISPASS.2013.6557176
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84881459206
SN - 9781467357777
T3 - ISPASS 2013 - IEEE International Symposium on Performance Analysis of Systems and Software
SP - 256
EP - 267
BT - ISPASS 2013 - IEEE International Symposium on Performance Analysis of Systems and Software
PB - IEEE Computer Society
T2 - 2013 IEEE International Symposium on Performance Analysis of Systems and Software, ISPASS 2013
Y2 - 21 April 2013 through 23 April 2013
ER -