Chapter 1 System Overview
Hippo DCA2 User’s Manual
2
memory operates at the same speed as the CPU, allowing the CPU to retrieve instructions
from any location within the main memory at zero wait states.
1.5
Users advantages of DCA2
The entire memory bank acts as if its a cache subsytem.
15ns memory (standard DRAM only operates at 70ns).
Zero wait states between the CPU and memory.
Up to 200% memory performance increase with applications running in a DOS
environment or other 16-bit operating systems.
Up to 400% memory performance increase with applications run in an OS2 and NT
environment or other 32-bit operating systems.
DCA2 memory operates at CPU speed, making it four times faster than any other
DRAM memory currently on the market.
1.6
Technical advantages of DCA2
15ns Access Time during Hit Cycle
15ns Posted Random Writes
35ns Random Read Access Page Miss
Transparent Refresh during Cache Reads
Hidden DRAM precharge during Page Reads
Consumes 1/3 the power of SRAM plus DRAM solutions
On-board cache Hit/Miss Comparator
Write Posting Register with Direct Path to Memory Array
1.7
DynamiCache Description
The benefits of DynamiCache are easy to understand. New operating systems such as
Windows 3.11, Windows NT, OS/2, UNIX and their associated applications generate a
new level of high stresses on conventional external caches, preventing the power of these
Oss from being fully exploited. Although these operating systems do offer the ability to
multitask applications, these features are rarely used in practice as it causes even the best
designed L2 cache motherboard to perform at unacceptably low levels. DynamiCache,
being able to access any instruction or data string from any physical address in memory
at full cache speed, enables the CPU to handle multitasked operations as smoothly as it
handles single applications.
