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Course contents

  • How to Use This Course
  • Protocol Metrics Reference
  • Protocols Glossary
  • Reading Path
  • Protocol Fundamentals25
  • AMBA Family (APB / AHB / AXI)17
  • Coherence Fabrics (ACE / CHI)17
  • Memory Interfaces (DDR / LPDDR / HBM)17
    • DDR Controller / PHY Split
      • DDR Controller / PHY Split: Concepts
      • DDR Controller / PHY Split: Integration
      • DDR Controller / PHY Split: Debug
      • DDR Controller / PHY Split: Interview
    • Training & Timing Modes
    • Refresh & Bandwidth Efficiency
    • Memory Interface Debug
    • Memory Interfaces (DDR / LPDDR / HBM): Tricky Q&A
  • PCIe & CXL17
  • Embedded Peripherals (I2C / SPI / UART)17
  • High-Speed I/O (USB / Ethernet / MIPI)17
  • Protocol Verification & Compliance21
  • Protocols Interview Prep5
  • Interface Protocols Cheatsheet
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←DDR Controller / PHY Split
  1. Topics
  2. Bus Protocols
  3. Memory Interfaces (DDR / LPDDR / HBM)
  4. DDR Controller / PHY Split
  5. DDR Controller / PHY Split: Interview
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    Interface ProtocolsAll levels

    DDR Controller / PHY Split: Interview

    Interview for DDR Controller / PHY Split.

    Interview drills

    Can two adjacent cache-line addresses be assumed to conflict in the same DRAM row buffer?

    Check yourself Can two adjacent cache-line addresses be assumed to conflict in the same DRAM row buffer?

    No. Under this explicit mapping they select different banks. Decode the actual controller mapping before explaining locality or conflicts.

    Common trap: Giving a generic fix without identifying the boundary and unmet obligation in this example.

    Why is effective DDR bandwidth below peak?

    Check yourself Why is effective DDR bandwidth below peak?

    The width-and-transfer-rate product is only a ceiling. Refresh recovery, command timing, bank and row state, read/write turnarounds, request granularity, controller policy and competing traffic can all reduce accepted useful bytes. Quantify their effect with the selected device mode and a stated workload; no single efficiency percentage applies to every DDR system.

    Common trap: Multiplying width × frequency only.

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    See also

    • DDR Controller / PHY Split: Concepts
    • DDR Controller / PHY Split: Integration