Dual In-line Memory Module from FOLDOC

DIMM ⇝

Dual In-line Memory Module

Small circuit boards carrying memory integrated circuits, with signal and power pins on both sides of the board, in contrast to single-in-line memory modules (SIMM).

The individual gold or lead connectors (pins) on SIMMs, although they are on both sides of the chip, are connected to the same memory chip, while on a DIMM, the connections on each side of the module connect to different chips. This allows for a wider data path, as more modules can be accessed at once. DIMM pins are arranged in a zigzag design to allow PCB tracks to pass between them.

The 8-byte DIMM format with dual-sided contacts can accommodate 4- and 16-megabit dynamic RAM chips, and is predicted to handle 64- and 256-Mbit devices. The 8-byte DIMM will hold up to 32 megabytes of memory using 16-Mbit DRAMs, but with the 256-Mbit future-generation DRAM, it will be able to hold a 64-Mx64 configuration. Another variation, the 72-pin SO-DIMM, is designed to connect directly to 32 bit data buses, and is intended for use in memory-expansion applications in notebook computers.

A Dual in-line memory module (DIMM), as opposed to SIMMs (used by the majority of the PC industry) allows for a 128-bit data path by interleaving memory on alternating memory access cycles. SIMMs on the other hand, have a 64-bit data path. Suppliers are unanimous in their belief that the DIMM will eventually replace the SIMM as the market's preferred memory module.

Last updated: 1996-01-28

Nearby terms:

Dual In-Line ♦ Dual In-line Memory Module ♦ Dual In-Line Package

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