SRAM vs DRAM: 12 Must-Know Facts
- SRAM was invented in 1963 by Robert Norman as a semiconductor bipolar at Fairchild Semiconductor.
- DRAM was invented in 1967 by Robert Dennard as one of the important computer technology advances.
- SRAM is mainly fixed on the processor or within the memory and the processor.
- DRAM is fixed on the motherboard.
- The successor of the SRAM is the DRAM because it is cheaper to produce.
- SRAM is available for purchase, but mainly for system builders.
- The oldest version of the DRAM is DDR1, but it is only available to industrial manufacturers and not consumers. On the other hand, the latest version is the DDR4, which is available for both consumers and industrial manufacturers.
- SRAM saves data on the memory when power is still connected to the system.
- DRAM needs to be periodically refreshed.
- SRAM is an abbreviation for Static Random-Access Memory.
- DRAM is an abbreviation for dynamic random access memory.
SRAM and DRAM are both types of random access memory. Both RAMs were invented to offer data storage to different applications. SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) is a type of RAM that stores data bits in the memory when it is connected to power. On the other hand, DRAM (dynamic random access memory) stores data in bits in the cells of both transistors and capacitors.
SRAM vs DRAM: Side-by-Side Comparison
| SRAM | DRAM | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is: | SRAM (static random access memory) refers to a certain type of memory semiconductor. It uses a bistable circuit that is latched to store data. Being static, SRAM doesn’t need to be periodically refreshed for its performance. | DRAM (dynamic random access memory) refers to a certain type of RAM that provides storage for data that is within a different capacitor in a certain integrated circuit. |
| Application: | Both the cache units of L2 and L3 are the SRAM general areas of application. | It is mostly found as the computer’s main memory. But this type of storage is not suitable for long-term storage. |
| Storage capacity: | The storage capacity of SRAM is smaller. The storage acts as a cache. This storage is measured in MBs. | Dram has a larger storage capacity. It can be directly connected to the CPU bus. The volatile storage is mostly measured in GBs. |
| Cost: | SRAM is more expensive and less cost-effective compared to DRAM. | The DRAM price is cheaper. |
| Power usage: | The power consumption for SRAM is lower. There is no leakage in charges because it changes the direction of its current direction in the switches rather than leaking power directly into the capacitor. | The power consumption of DRAM is higher. The capacitors leak power because of the imperfect insulation that needs the power to be refreshed regularly. |
| Speed: | SRAM is faster than DRAM because it has on-chip memory, which allows it to have a small access time. | DRAM is slower than SRAM because it has off-chip memory. It takes a long time to access. |
| Density: | SRAM has a low density compared to DRAM. | DRAM has a high density. |
| Volatility: | SRAM doesn’t need any additional power charges when it is receiving power, but it can easily lose data without charge. | DRAM needs to have an active power supply as well as frequent charges when it is active. |
| Charge leakage: | SRAM doesn’t have any charge leakage issues. | DRAM has issues with power leakages thus it requires refreshed circuitry of power. |
| Transistors: | Just a simple memory block of SRAM requires 6 transistors. | In order to form a memory block, DRAM needs a single transistor. |
| Simplicity: | The modules of SRAM are more straightforward when compared to DRAM. It has the easiest interfaces to build that can be developed to easily access the memory. | DRAMS modules are complicated when compared to SRAM. |
| Construction and design: | SRAM design and construction is more complicated because it uses different types in order to perform. | DRAM design is very simple thus making it easy to construct. It only uses very few transistors and capacitors. |
| Area of placement: | SRAM is placed on the processors or between the main memory and processor. | DRAM is always placed on the motherboard. |
What is SRAM?
SRAM is also known as Static random-access memory is a certain type of RAM (random-access memory) that mainly uses flip-flop or latching circuitry to store each bit of data. SRAM is a type of memory that is volatile thus meaning when power is disconnected, it loses data.
Complete History of SRAM
In 1963, Robert Norman invented the semiconductor bipolar SRAM at the Fairchild Semiconductor International, Inc. The MOS SRAM was invented by John Schmidt in 1964 at Fairchild Semiconductor.
After its invention, SRAM became the main driver behind any technology of the CMOS fabrication process from the day when the invention of CMOS in 1959. In 1965, Eugene Schling and Arnold Farber who were working for IBM, decided to create a memory cell that was hard wired by using a tunnel diode latch and a transistor gate.
They had to replace the latch with two resistors and two transistors, a configuration that was called a Farber-Schling cell. Benjamin Agusta together with his IBM team 1995 decided to come up with a 16-bit silicon memory chip that was located in the Farber-Schling cell with 64 resistors, 4 diodes, and 80 transistors.
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Applications of SRAM
- Digital cameras.
- Automobile equipment.
- Modern electronic equipment.
- Synthesizers.
- Hard disk buffers.
- Computing applications.
- Printer
- Computing applications.
SRAM can be used in many more digital applications than DRAM. The main reason for using SRAM is to come up with a memory cache.
Features of SRAM
SRAM is mostly used as a memory cache.
- SRAM is faster compared to DRAM.
- Uses less power for consumption than DRAM.
- It takes more space.
- Mostly used for level 1 and level 2 cache.
- The cycle time for SRAM is shorter than DRAM because it doesn’t need to pause.
| Pros! | Cons! |
|---|---|
| SRAM has lower consumption of power. | SRAM has a very low storage capacity. |
| It is faster meaning it can access information or data faster. | Decreases the density of the memory. |
| SRAM can be used to help in creating a speed-sensitive cache. | Since it is volatile, when not powered you will data. |
| It doesn’t need pausing within accesses thus making its cycle time shorter. | It is expensive compared to DRAMs. |
What is DRAM?
DRAM (dynamic random access memory) is a certain type of semiconductor memory that is used to store each bit of data directly in the memory cell. This memory cell has a transistor and a tiny capacitor that are both based on the MOS (metal-oxide-semiconductor) technology.
Most designs of the DRAM memory cell use transistors and capacitors, but others only need two transistors. The one that uses a capacitor, the capacitor can be discharged or charged. The two states represent the bit values, conventionally known as 0 and 1.
The capacitors that are electrically charged gradually leak away without any data intervention on the capacitor being lost. In order to prevent this, DRAM needs a memory refresh circuit that periodically rewrites the capacitor data, restoring them to their original charge.
History of DRAM
The Aquarius, a cryptanalytic machine code, was used during World War II at Bletchley Park to make the hard-wired dynamic. Paper tape was studied and most of the characters on it were commonly remembered in the dynamic store.
This store mostly used capacitors with large banks. These capacitors were charged or discharged. The charged one represented a cross (1) while the uncharged capacitor represented a dot (0). Since the charge is leaked away, application of periodic pulse in order to top up the charged ones.
The earliest DRAM forms used bipolar transistors. As a result, it outperformed magnetic-core memory in terms of performance, but it couldn’t compete with the lower price of the dominant magnetic-core memory. In the earlier memory schemes, capacitors were commonly used.
In 1969, Advanced Memory System, Inc. of Sunnyvale, CA commercialized MOS DRAM chips. The chip was later sold to different organizations. During this year, Honeywell requested Intel to make a 3 transistor cell DRAM which they had already developed. In 1970, it became the Intel 1102. This Intel had many issues, forcing Intel to start working on a newly improved design and also avoid a conflict with Honeywell.
They released the Intel 1103 in October 1970, but there were issues with low yield until they decided to release the revisions for the fifth time. The first DRAM had columns as well as rows that were multiplexed. This DRAM was created by Robert Dennard and was invented in 1973. In 2001, the DRAM makers in Japan accused the DRAM manufacturers in Korea of dumping.
Applications of DRAM
- Can be used in networking.
- When one needs a RAM that is cost-effective, DRAM is the best option to consider.
- DRAM is mostly used in personal computers.
- It can be used in operated batteries that are asynchronous and synchronous applications.
- In graphic functions enhancement on computers, DRAM memories are the best to use.
Features of DRAM
- DRAM tends to be much slower.
- The lifetime of DRAM data is short.
- It needs to be periodically refreshed.
| Pros! | Cons! |
|---|---|
| It is cheap compared to SRAMs. | When power is off, you will lose data. |
| DRAM has a very simple structure. | The power consumption of DRAM is higher. |
| It has a storage capacity that is higher thus enabling people to create RAM space that is large for their systems. | It is slow and thus takes a lot of time to access information or data. |
| DRAM is cheaper compared to SRAM. | |
| It mostly utilizes circuitry and logic that makes the module of the memory easy to set up as well as use. | |
| DRAM doesn’t need to refresh the contents in the memory. |
SRAM vs DRAM: Which One is Better?
Both SRAM and DRAM have some major differences as well as similarities. One of the main differences is that SRAM tends to be faster than DRAM because DRAM requires regular data refreshing that is already stored in the memory. SRAM is expensive because it needs 6 transistors for a simple memory block, while DRAM is cheaper because it needs a single transistor for a simple memory block.
The main differences between SRAM and DRAM are features such as speed, performance, functionality, and other features. Among the two RAMs, SRAM is the best for activities like gaming due to its fast speed.
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