Performance Evaluation of Content Addressable Memories

Content addressable memories are used in high speed searching applications. There are more applications for Ternary Content addressable memories (TCAM) than Binary Content addressable memories(BiCAM).For higher search speed applications, NOR type matchline CAMs are useful. The NOR-type matchline CAM requires high power, therefore, the reduction of its power consumption is the subject of many reported designs. Here, comparison of NOR type matchline BiCAM and TCAM is doneinterms of power and area. The BiCAM power consumption is 20% less than the TCAM. Simulations performed with cadence 45-nm technology.