Pumping (computer systems)
Encyclopedia
Pumping, when referring to computer
systems, is simply how many times per clock cycle data is being transmitted. Early types of system memory (RAM
), such as SDRAM
, transmitted data on only the rising edge of the clock. With the advent of double data rate synchronous dynamic RAM or DDR SDRAM
, the data was transmitted on both rising and falling edges. However, quad-pumping has been used for a while for the front side bus
(FSB) of a computer system. This works by transmitting data at the rising edge, peak, falling edge, and trough of each clock cycle. Intel computer systems (and others) use this technology to reach effective FSB speeds of 1600 MT/s (million transfers per second), even though the FSB clock speed is only 400 MHz (cycles per second). A phase-locked loop in the CPU then multiplies the FSB clock by a factor in order to get the CPU speed.
Example: A Core 2 Duo E6600 processor is listed as 2.4 GHz with a 1066 MHz FSB. The FSB is known to be quad-pumped, so its clock frequency is 1066/4 = 266 MHz. Therefore, the CPU multiplier is 2400/266, or 9×. The DDR2 RAM that it is compatible with is known to be double-pumped and to have an Input/Output Bus twice that of the true FSB frequency (effectively transferring data 4 times a clock cycle), so to run the system synchronously (see Front side bus
) the type of RAM that is appropriate is quadruple 266 MHz, or DDR2-1066 (PC2-8400 or PC2-8500, depending on the manufacturer's labeling.).
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
systems, is simply how many times per clock cycle data is being transmitted. Early types of system memory (RAM
Ram
-Animals:*Ram, an uncastrated male sheep*Ram cichlid, a species of freshwater fish endemic to Colombia and Venezuela-Military:*Battering ram*Ramming, a military tactic in which one vehicle runs into another...
), such as SDRAM
SDRAM
Synchronous dynamic random access memory is dynamic random access memory that is synchronized with the system bus. Classic DRAM has an asynchronous interface, which means that it responds as quickly as possible to changes in control inputs...
, transmitted data on only the rising edge of the clock. With the advent of double data rate synchronous dynamic RAM or DDR SDRAM
DDR SDRAM
Double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory is a class of memory integrated circuits used in computers. DDR SDRAM has been superseded by DDR2 SDRAM and DDR3 SDRAM, neither of which are either forward or backward compatible with DDR SDRAM, meaning that DDR2 or DDR3 memory modules...
, the data was transmitted on both rising and falling edges. However, quad-pumping has been used for a while for the front side bus
Front side bus
A front-side bus is a computer communication interface often used in computers during the 1990s and 2000s.It typically carries data between the central processing unit and a memory controller hub, known as the northbridge....
(FSB) of a computer system. This works by transmitting data at the rising edge, peak, falling edge, and trough of each clock cycle. Intel computer systems (and others) use this technology to reach effective FSB speeds of 1600 MT/s (million transfers per second), even though the FSB clock speed is only 400 MHz (cycles per second). A phase-locked loop in the CPU then multiplies the FSB clock by a factor in order to get the CPU speed.
Example: A Core 2 Duo E6600 processor is listed as 2.4 GHz with a 1066 MHz FSB. The FSB is known to be quad-pumped, so its clock frequency is 1066/4 = 266 MHz. Therefore, the CPU multiplier is 2400/266, or 9×. The DDR2 RAM that it is compatible with is known to be double-pumped and to have an Input/Output Bus twice that of the true FSB frequency (effectively transferring data 4 times a clock cycle), so to run the system synchronously (see Front side bus
Front side bus
A front-side bus is a computer communication interface often used in computers during the 1990s and 2000s.It typically carries data between the central processing unit and a memory controller hub, known as the northbridge....
) the type of RAM that is appropriate is quadruple 266 MHz, or DDR2-1066 (PC2-8400 or PC2-8500, depending on the manufacturer's labeling.).