Which memory devices is used in mainframe computer?

[Hari Om]

Hi,

I'm curious to know, which memory devices is used in mainframe computer? I mean are they like personal computers or there is much more to ti?

[Robert Sample]

From the IBM z13 Technical Guide Redbook:

IBM continues its technology leadership with the z13 server. The z13 server is built using the IBM modular multi-drawer design that supports 1 - 4 CPC drawers per CPC. Each CPC drawer contains eight single-chip modules (SCM), which host the redesigned complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) 14S03 processor units, storage control chips, and connectors for I/O.

Depending on the model, the z13 server can support from 256 GB to a maximum of 10 TB of usable memory, with up to 2.5 TB of usable memory per CPC drawer. In addition, a fixed amount of 96 GB is reserved for the hardware system area (HSA) and is not part of customer-purchased memory. Memory is implemented as a redundant array of independent memory (RAIM) and uses extra physical memory as spare memory. The RAIM function uses 20% of the physical installed memory in each CPC drawer.

The memory is custom-designed by IBM, so while it shares some characteristics with PC memory, it is very much NOT the same. You could not take PC memory and expect it to be usable in a mainframe.

[Hari Om]

Thanks Robert.

But the concept of memory in PC and mainframe is same, right?

[Robert Sample]

Yes, the concept is the same but PC memory and mainframe memory are not interchangeable.

[vasanthz]

One difference is that they are super pricey..
1 GB of mainframe memory(not DASD) costs around 1,00,000 rupees, desktop memory of 8GB DDR4 costs 4000 rupees.

[Hari Om]

Thanks All.