A high-speed memory is provided, the memory having a write port and a read port and comprised of the following: a plurality of N memory modules for storing fixed size cells, which are segments of a variable size packet divided into X cells, the X cells being grouped into .left brkt-top.X/N.right brkt-bot. groups of cells; a read-write control block receiving cells from the write port and storing each cell, which belongs to the same group, in a selected different one of the N memory modules at the same memory address (the group address); a multi-cell pointer (MCP) storage for storing an MCP for the group of cells (an associated MCP) at an MCP address, the MCP having N memory module identifiers to record the order in which cells of the group of cells are stored in the N memory modules; the MCP address being the same as the group address.