[sdiy] SRAM versus DRAM

[Tom Wiltshire]

Dan,

You're dead right that DRAM needs to be refreshed. The refresh is  
important because if you don't do it, your memory doesn't remember! I  
always thought it was pretty cheeky calling DRAM "memory" when it can  
only retain information for such a short time. Sort of the goldfish  
brain of the IC world.

I think you're making life very difficult for yourself trying to find  
and use ancient chips that are more expensive (if you can find them  
at all) and not as good as more modern ones(larger/chaeper/faster).  
There are plenty of modern SRAMs about - why not use those? If you  
do, you'll find datasheets and so forth much more easily. If you did  
manage to come up with a good circuit, no-one else would be able to  
build it because they'd struggle as much as you have to find parts,  
and if it breaks down, you won't be able to repair it. All in all, it  
doesn't seem like a good way to go. Design with things that are  
common and cheap wherever possible.

On a separate note, I've got a circuit for a Maplin "ADA" delay (8- 
bit digital delay) from the 80's. I'm not at home this week, but when  
I am I'll dig it out and send it over.

Regards,
Tom

On 24 Jun 2009, at 01:15, Dan Snazelle wrote:

>
>
> in a project that calls for SRAM can you use DRAM instead?
>
> I know they are fundamentally different in that one type has to be  
> refreshed  but i suppose i do not understand
> WHY the refresh is important
>
> in the case of a digital delay for example
>
> sorry for the endless questions on this topic
>
>
> in many cases i cant even find the datasheets for these long gone  
> chips
>
> thanks
>
>
>
>
>
>
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