Most memories are "random access": any single storage location can be accessed in any order at any time. But for some applications, special kinds of memories offer significant advantages of better performance, lower cost, and easier design. IDT makes two kinds of these specialty memories.

FIFOs: First-In First-Out Memories

Sometimes a memory is needed to temporarily hold a "stream" of information, usually because the information is being received at a different rate than it can be used. Designers need a data pipeline to place data into and to take data out from in the same sequence, but at different rates. IDT makes more than 100 products that do just this job.

Multi-Port Memories

Most memories have a single input and output. Like a turnstile, only one piece of data can go into or out of the memory at a time. In some designs performance can be increased dramatically by allowing two independent entrances and exits from a memory. This is especially useful when two processors need to share the same information.

A multiport memory gives each processor its own "doorways" into the memory, so each can independently and simultaneously access the same stored data. IDT builds a number of Dual-port and Four-port memories that make these designs possible.

Click to go to technical data on our FIFO and Multiport Memory products.


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Last Updated 9/24/96

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