Raj Mahajan, Principal Architect, MemCore, Inc.

The variety of memory devices available today provides the system architect with multiple options when selecting a memory. The selection is usually driven by key considerations-power, speed, device configurations, cost, and pin count. Functionality differences can play a big role in optimizing system level performance, cost, and power. A detailed understanding of the impact of various memory features on the overall system can be critical when selecting the right mix of memory subsystem components. This paper will review popular DDR memory device architectures and provide selection criteria to pick the right memory device based on system design objectives.