Processing In Memory

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What Does Processing In Memory Mean?

Processing in memory (PIM) is a process through which computations and processing can be performed within a computer, server or related device’s memory. It enables faster processing on tasks that reside within the computer memory module.

Processing in memory is also known as processor in memory.

Techopedia Explains Processing In Memory

PIM is primarily designed to eliminate latencies that are visible in standard computer architectures, also known as Von Neumann bottleneck, where memory is only used to store programs and data and the processing is done solely by the processor. PIM framework integrates/embeds a small form factor processor within the memory so that tasks that don’t require extensive processor power can be processed directly within the memory. This helps speed up processing, memory transfer rate, memory bandwidth and decrease processing latency.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert

Margaret is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.