Author's Latest Posts


Deep Learning Neural Networks Drive Demands On Memory Bandwidth


A deep neural network (DNN) is a system that is designed similar to our current understanding of biological neural networks in the brain. DNNs are finding use in many applications, advancing at a fast pace, pushing the limits of existing silicon, and impacting the design of new computing architectures. Figure 1 shows a very basic form of neural network that has several nodes in each layer that ... » read more

GDDR6 PHYs: From The Data Center To Self-Driving Cars


The demand for ever-increasing bandwidth has resulted in a growing interest in GDDR across a number of market verticals, including data centers and the automotive sector. As an example of the former, deep learning applications require ever-increasing speed and bandwidth memory solutions in the data center. In deep learning and other emerging technologies, GDDR memory can help companies addre... » read more

The Promises And Challenges Of 7nm


Despite a waning Moore’s Law and the increasing costs of advanced process nodes, the semiconductor industry is steadily approaching 7 nanometers (nm). The demand for 7nm is driving expected initial tape-outs from fabs by the end of 2017, with initial volumes beginning in 2018 and ramping up by 2019. Silicon fabbed on 7nm nodes will offer a number of benefits for chipmakers, including lower po... » read more

The Challenges Of Designing An HBM2 PHY


Originally targeted at the graphics industry, HBM continues to gain momentum in the server and networking markets as system designers work to move higher bandwidth closer to the CPU. Expanding DRAM capacity – which boosts overall system performance – allows data centers to maximize local DRAM storage for wide throughput. HBM DRAM architecture effectively increases system memory bandwidth... » read more

Architecting Memory For Next-Gen Data Centers


The industry’s insatiable appetite for increased bandwidth and ever-higher transfer rates is driven by a burgeoning Internet of Things (IoT), which has ushered in a new era of pervasive connectivity and generated a tsunami of data. In this context, datacenters are currently evaluating a wide range of new memory initiatives. All seek to optimize efficiency by reducing data transport, thus sign... » read more

How Is Your HBM Memory?


The seemingly countless applications used every day requiring web access (social media, streaming video, games, etc.) are not only driving the need to store a tremendous amount of data, but also driving the need to access this data with as little delay as possible. Add to this list the growing number of connected devices (IoT), and you can see why changes in the data center are needed, in parti... » read more

Driving Memory Beyond DDR4


While attending recent technology trade shows, the Intel Developer’s Forum (IDF) in August and last week’s ARM TechCon, I participated in many interesting discussions around server performance, power consumption, memory bandwidth and capacity. The race to introduce higher-performing servers that consume less power is fueled by the growing demand for new applications in the enterprise, commu... » read more

Caught In Between


I recently spent four busy days at a tradeshow where I was fortunate enough to get a couple of nice gifts – and perhaps by coincidence, these items are a good representation of where we are in the high-tech market today. Let me explain. As I write this blog, I’m wearing my new fitness-tracking device that I received as part of the ARM IP Connected Community challenge at the Design Automatio... » read more

Architecture Of Data In The IoT


It’s clear that the Internet of Things (IoT) is no longer just a visionary concept. It’s on the verge of becoming a new reality. But this new reality is heavily dependent on the ability of an infrastructure to capture, secure and move data across networks. Given the tremendous amount of data that already surrounds us, this emerging paradigm will enable us to not just track and measure,... » read more

NoC Straight Talk


Increased interest in on-chip network IP is without a doubt directly correlated to the increase in SoC complexity and performance over the past few years. Some SoC design managers even have gone so far as to say that the success of their SoC program is directly related to their ability to implement an on-chip communications network. Underestimating the importance of the on-chip network has caus... » read more

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