Impact of memory systems on computer architecture and system organization

Abstract

The largest part of computer architecture, in both the central processing unit and the overall system, has been and continues to be directly influenced in one way or another by the types of memory systems available. This is readily apparent in certain areas such as I/O architecture and memory hierarchies. However, the pervasiveness of this influence throughout the entire system is not so obvious. This paper demonstrates this relationship and shows how it has affected computer architecture over the years. Two approaches are used, the first being a direct look at how specific architectures attempt to circumvent the limitations of the associated memory system. This includes such topics as the internal architecture of CPUs: memory hierarchies and virtual memory, I/O architecture, file structuring, and data base architecture. Second, a danken (thought) experiment is used to predict future trends. It is assumed that very large-scale integration will evolve to the point at which we can have nearly any main memory system we desire, with some reasonable constraints. The architectural changes that might take place will be seen to be precisely related to the weaknesses in current memory systems which various architectures currently attempt to circumvent.