Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!know!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!apple!voder!pyramid!dwaddell
From: dwaddell@pyrman2.pyramid.com (David Waddell)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Refreshing DRAM
Keywords: DRAM, refresh cycle
Message-ID: <131934@pyramid.pyramid.com>
Date: 27 Oct 90 01:08:42 GMT
Sender: daemon@pyramid.pyramid.com
Reply-To: dwaddell@pyrman2.pyramid.com (David Waddell)
Organization: Pyramid Technology Corp., Mountain View, CA
Lines: 25

In article <44900017@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu> smlg1015@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu writes:
>
>Dear sci.electronics:
>
>Now that I'm putting more memory on to the lab`s computer, it got me thinking
>about the refresh of DRAM.  If one increases the amount of DRAM by a factor of
>4, say, does this mean that the microprocessor spends 4 times as much time
>refreshing, and hence, less time executing useful instructions? Does refreshing
>occur chip by chip, or all DRAMS chips simultaneously?  For all practical
>purposes, does the addition of more memory (after a certain limit) lose its
>appeal because of refresh?
>
>Just wondering,
>
>Stuart Lichtenthal


In answer to the first question: no, refresh will not cause loss of cycles.
DRAM refresh cycles are not dependent on the cpu the way you are thinking.


Don't Worry Be Happy                             Lucky aka David
 					         Components Tech

Opinions expressed are my own.