2007 IEEE 13th International Symposium on High Performance Computer Architecture
Optical Interconnect Opportunities for Future Server Memory Systems
Scottsdale, AZ, USA
February 10-February 14
ISBN: 1-4244-0804-0
Y. Katayama, IBM Research, Tokyo Research Laboratory, 1623-14 Shimotsuruma Yamato Kanagawa 242-8502 Japan. yasunaok@jp.ibm.com
A. Okazaki, IBM Research, Tokyo Research Laboratory, 1623-14 Shimotsuruma Yamato Kanagawa 242-8502 Japan. a2ya@jp.ibm.com
This paper deals with alternative server memory architecture options in multicore CPU generations using optically-attached memory systems. Thanks to its large bandwidth-distance product, optical interconnect technology enables CPUs and local memory to be placed meters away from each other without sacrificing bandwidth. This topologically-local but physically-remote main memory attahed via an ultra-high-bandwidth parallel optical interconnect can lead to flexible memory architecture options using low-cost commodity memory technologies.