SRAM vs DRAM

The cluster focuses on comparisons between SRAM (used in CPU caches) and DRAM (main system memory), discussing differences in speed, latency, power, density, and refresh requirements, often in the context of new on-package or integrated memory in chips.

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Keywords

RAM DIMM CPU SSD DDR4 ARM NVRAM HBM CAS MB dram ram memory cache cpu controller caches cpus latency nand

Sample Comments

throwaheyy Nov 17, 2020 View on HN

Don’t most processors use on-chip SRAM for their cache, which is faster than DRAM?

guerrilla Oct 18, 2021 View on HN

Faster than DRAM from the 90's.

jmpman Apr 23, 2025 View on HN

Would it be lower power than DRAM?

tester756 May 24, 2022 View on HN

are speeds of bleeding edge mem devices getting close to RAM?

IgorPartola Jan 6, 2026 View on HN

At least in older CPUs the caches were SRAM (static RAM). It is complicated but requires no refreshing. DRAM is basically just a capacitor per bit and capacitors leak so you constantly have to refresh the entire memory space. When the CPU sends a request to RAM, the memory controller might be too busy refreshing the soon to decay parts to actually respond right away. And if I recall correctly when you read from DRAM you destroy what was there so the process is to read it, then write it back, the

MrBuddyCasino May 6, 2021 View on HN

Would achievable SRAM cache size per mm2 work?

haberman Jan 30, 2012 View on HN

Yes, it said it was as fast as DRAM, not SRAM (the latter is what is used for cache and registers).

beeflet Sep 24, 2024 View on HN

What is the latency like vs DRAM?

nudgeee Aug 8, 2023 View on HN

We’re talking DRAM here, not NAND?

Taniwha Dec 1, 2021 View on HN

You're confusing DRAM and CPUs - CPUs almost only use static SRAM cells internally which don't require refresh