In-Memory Intelligence

Recent activity in near-data processing has built or proposed systems that can exploit technologies such as 3D stacks, in-situ computing, or dataflow devices. However, little effort has been applied to exploit the natural parallelism and throughput of DRAM. This article details research from Micron Technology in the area of processing in memory as a form of memory-centric computing. In-Memory Intelligence (IMI) attempts to place a massive array of bit-serial computing elements on pitch with the memory array, as close to the information as possible. This contrasts with near-memory devices that rely on some form of storage but must communicate with that storage via a fast, low-latency interface. Initial simulations and models show stair-step improvements in performance and power for various applications. Such technology allows DRAM to provide functionality in a heterogeneous system to alleviate the pressures of the von-Neumann barrier.