Dram cache with tags and data jointly stored in physical rows

Abstract

A system and method for efficient cache data access in a large row-based memory of a computing system. A computing system includes a processing unit and an integrated three-dimensional (3D) dynamic random access memory (DRAM). The processing unit uses the 3D DRAM as a cache. Each row of the multiple rows in the memory array banks of the 3D DRAM stores at least multiple cache tags and multiple corresponding cache lines indicated by the multiple cache tags. In response to receiving a memory request from the processing unit, the 3D DRAM performs a memory access according to the received memory request on a given cache line indicated by a cache tag within the received memory request. Rather than utilizing multiple DRAM transactions, a single, complex DRAM transaction may be used to reduce latency and power consumption.