A methodology for a daisy-chained memory topology wherein, in addition to
the prediction of the timing of receipt of a response from a memory
module (DIMM), the memory controller can effectively predict when a
command sent by it will be executed by the addressee DIMM. By programming
DIMM-specific command delay in the DIMM's command delay unit, the command
delay balancing methodology according to the present disclosure
"normalizes" or "synchronizes" the execution of the command signal across
all DIMMs in the memory channel. With such ability to predict command
execution timing, the memory controller can efficiently control power
profile of all the DRAM devices (or memory modules) on a daisy-chained
memory channel. A separate DIMM-specific response delay unit in the DIMM
may also be programmed to provide DIMM-specific delay compensation in the
response path, further allowing the memory controller to accurately
ascertain the timing of receipt of a response thereat, and, hence, to
better manage further processing of the response.