A method for dynamically adjusting a memory page-closing policy for
computer systems employing various types of DRAM memory partitioned into
one or more memory banks, and circuitry for implementing the method. In
general, the method comprises monitoring memory accesses to memory banks
and dynamically adjusting the memory page closing policy for those memory
bank based on locality characteristics of its memory accesses so that
memory latencies are reduced. In one embodiment, in response to memory
requests from a computer system processor, memory accesses to the DRAM
memory are made on a page-wise basis. As each memory page is accessed, a
page-miss, page-hit or page-hit state is produced. Depending on the page
access states, which generally will reflect the locality characteristics
of (an) application(s) accessing the memory, a page-close set point is
adjusted. When a timing count corresponding to the page exceeds the
page-close set point, the memory page is closed.
