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From: lkoop@pnet01.cts.com (Lamonte Koop)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
Subject: Re: 32 bit memory???
Message-ID: <7616@crash.cts.com>
Date: 18 Feb 91 04:56:00 GMT
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Organization: People-Net [pnet01], El Cajon CA
Lines: 44

tbissett@nstar.rn.com (Travis Bissett) writes:
>anderson@mrcnext.uiuc.edu (Brent James Anderson) writes:
>
>> Friend says that there really isn't such a thing as "32-bit" memory.
>> 
>> Everyone always says, "you have to get some 32bit mem. if you're going
>> to buy an '030 board or else it'll crawl... etc."
>> 
>> but he says that the only difference is the size (ie: 1x8, 256x4...)
>> and the refresh speed (ie: 80ns, 100ns...).
>> 
>
>I'm afraid your friend is a bit confused <roar! pun intended :-)> The chips 

No, his friend is correct.

>that constitute the 32-bit memory may or may not be of particular interest. 
>There are two big things to be considered as part of 32-bit ramhood: (1) the 
>memory chips have to have address lines that correspond to the 32 signal 
>lines coming form the 680x0 cpu; (2) the data buss has to have the bandwidth 

The pin makeup of the chips is of interest for external circuitry design
considerations, and has nothing to do with whether or not the chips may be
used as "32-bit memory".
Basically, the chips are not important in this issue, but what is important is
the complete board/device design.  A memory board designed to be used on a
32-bit wide bus will have it's controlling circuitry also designed for
utilizing the chips it has in a 32-bit data transfer manner.  This may involve
interleave setups, and so on, depending on the size and density of the memory,
but does not depend on the acutal chip in that the memory chips themselves do
not have to be "32-bit" chips.  Yes, data transfers can occur for amounts less
than a full 32-bits at a time, as the bus bandwidth is the upper limit to the
simultaneous transfer size.

>Travis Bissett             NSTAR conferencing site 219-289-0287
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                             LaMonte Koop
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        "Yes, I am their leader...now tell me where they went!"