Israeli researchers have developed software that enables computers to process data directly in memory, bypassing the need for the central processing unit (CPU), according to a statement from the Israel Institute of Technology on Thursday.
This innovation addresses the energy- and time-intensive data transfers between memory and the CPU, which have increasingly become bottlenecks in modern computing.
By performing some computations in memory, this approach reduces dependence on the CPU, leading to significant time and energy savings.
The researchers aim to tackle the “memory wall” problem, where increases in processor speeds and memory capacity outpace data transfer rates.
Traditional computer programs rely on separate hardware components for memory and processing, requiring data to be transferred from memory to the CPU for computation.
To support in-memory computing, the researchers developed a platform called PyPIM, which combines the Python programming language with digital processing-in-memory (PIM) technology, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
PyPIM uses new instructions to enable operations to be performed directly in memory.
The platform allows developers to write software for PIM computers using familiar programming languages like Python.
Additionally, the researchers created a simulation tool to help developers estimate performance gains.
The study demonstrated that using PyPIM for various mathematical and algorithmic tasks resulted in significantly faster processing with minimal code adjustments.
(Inputs from IANS)