Memory module having a memory controller to interface with a system bus
A memory module includes a memory module controller to be coupled to a system memory controller by a system memory bus and a plurality of memory devices coupled to the memory module controller, where signaling between the memory module controller and one or more of the memory devices is independent of signal loading or operating voltage of the system memory bus.
1. A memory module comprising:
a first plurality of memory devices; and
a first memory module controller to be coupled to a system memory bus, the first memory module controller to generate a signal to at least one of the plurality of memory devices that is independent of signal loading or operating voltage of the system memory bus.
2. The memory module of claim 1 , wherein the first memory module controller further comprises a clock generator to generate a clock signal to drive the signal, wherein the clock signal is a different frequency than a clock signal of the system memory bus.
3. The memory module of claim 2 , wherein the first memory module controller further comprises a request handling logic to examine a memory request to determine whether the memory request is addressed to at least one of the first plurality of memory devices and to ignore the memory request if the memory request is not addressed to any of the first plurality of memory devices.
4. The memory module of claim 3 , wherein the first memory module controller further comprises a power management unit to control power supplied to the first plurality of memory devices.
5. The memory module of claim 4 , wherein the first plurality of memory devices and the system memory bus operate at different power voltages.
6. The memory module of claim 5 , wherein the power management unit is to reduce at least a portion of the power to the first plurality of memory devices, if the memory request is not addressed to any of the first plurality of memory devices.
7. The memory module of claim 6 , wherein the first memory module controller further comprises a control logic coupled to the request handling logic, the clock generator, and the power management unit, the control logic configured to decouple the first plurality of memory devices from the system memory bus if the memory request is not addressed to any of the first plurality of memory devices.
8. The memory module of claim 7 , wherein in response to a signal from the request handling logic indicating that the memory request is not addressed to any of the first plurality of memory devices, the control logic is to instruct the clock generator to alter a frequency of the clock signal to the first plurality of memory devices.
9. The memory module of claim 8 , wherein the control logic is to further instruct the power management unit to disable the clock generator if the memory request is not addressed to any of the first plurality of memory devices, which in turn reduces the power dissipation of the first plurality of memory devices.
10. The memory module of claim 9 , further comprising a second memory module coupled to the system memory bus, the second memory module including:
a second plurality of memory devices; and
a second memory module controller coupled to the second plurality of memory devices and the system memory bus, the second memory module controller to manage the second plurality of memory devices independent of the first memory module controller of the first memory module and the second memory module controller is to separate the second plurality of memory devices of the second memory module from a system memory controller coupled to the system memory bus.
11. The memory module of claim 10 , wherein the first plurality of memory devices and the second plurality of memory devices have different signaling protocols, which are controlled by the first and second memory module controllers respectively, and wherein the different signaling protocols of the first and second pluralities of memory devices are incompatible with signaling protocols of the system memory controller and the system memory bus.
12. An apparatus comprising:
a first memory module including a first plurality of memory devices and a first memory module controller to be coupled to a system memory bus, the first memory module controller to decouple the first plurality of memory devices from the system memory bus and including a clock generator to generate a clock signal for the first plurality of memory devices at a different frequency than a clock signal of the system memory bus.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first memory module controller is to bridge a first protocol in which the system memory bus operates and a second protocol in which the first plurality of memory devices operates.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the first memory module further comprises signal lines coupled between the first plurality of memory devices and the first memory module controller, wherein the signal lines have a reduced loading as compared to the system memory bus.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the first memory module is to operate at a lower voltage than a system in which the first memory module is located.
16. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising a second memory module including a second plurality of memory devices and a second memory module controller to be coupled to the system memory bus, the second memory module controller to decouple the second plurality of memory devices from the system memory bus.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the first plurality of memory devices and the second plurality of memory devices have different signaling protocols and wherein the different signaling protocols of the first and second pluralities of memory devices are different than signaling protocols of the system memory bus.