RE: FPGA

G'day folks,

So as long as we are out on RAM tangents, can I ask if there's a 4:1
ration of DRAM to SRAM how does the recent IBM (or was it Intel) memory
breakthrough of 2 bits per "memory cell" affect this ratio? Can I
assume that it just brings SRAM storage capacity closer to DRAM storage
capacity?

I do understand that the breakthrough applies to flash and I'm just
using the term SRAM interchangeable (and perhaps inappropriately).

                Steven S Ozdemir
                sso@dsc.com

>----------
>From: Clay Cowgill[SMTP:clay@supra.com]
>Sent: Monday, October 06, 1997 6:13 PM
>To: vectorlist@goonsquad.spies.com
>Subject: Re: FPGA
>
>[SRAM]
>>My understading is that is takes four transistors per bit setup as a
>>Set/Reset latch.
>[DRAM]
>>In DRAM they use 1 transistor and a capacitor. Unfortunately the capacitor
>>will discharge quickly, so it must be *refreshed*.
>>
>>So I believe this makes DRAM nearly four times the storage density of SRAM
>>for the same die size.
>
>That sounds right. Would seem to be true if you look at density vs.
>availability or SRAM and DRAM at any given point in time.
>
>>The PDP-8 clone I used to program back in a Jr College was a completely
>>wire wrapped work of art. All TTL and a *lot* of wire wrap.
>
>We had a real one at Oregon State. It was pretty cool-- the one "neat" EE
>course in Sophomore year was assembly programming and they made the first 4
>weeks all PDP-8. We had a DOS simulator (of the PDP-8, not the other way
>around!) to work with at home, and then you had to hand-enter the code on
>the PDP for your "real" run. Pretty fun in an admittedly nerdy way. ;-)
>
>>I'd sure like to have that now, it would make a great room heater. I
>>wonder if you could write software loops that would cause it to give off
>>different amounts of heat and use it as a self regulating heater...
>
>Reminds me of the story of the guy that used processor loading to convey
>morse-code and "transmit" secure files to unsecure remote terminals. (I
>think it was at AT&T when some government spook-type was gloating how
>secure the computer was.) The programmer delivered a copy of an internal
>"secure" database to the security guys when they "knew" he couldn't have
>got it. Urban legend has it that he was fired on the spot, and rehired by
>the defense contractor that made the computer before he made it to his
>car... ;-)
>
>-Clay
>
>Clayton N. Cowgill Engineering Manager
>_______________________________________________________________________
>/\ Diamond Multimedia Systems, Inc. clay@supra.com
>\/ Communications Division http://www.supra.com/
>
>
>
Received on Tue Oct 7 09:16:52 1997