UNMATCHED CLOCK FOR COMMAND-ADDRESS AND DATA

A memory system includes a PHY embodied on an integrated circuit, the PHY coupling to a memory over conductive traces on a substrate. The PHY includes a reference clock generation circuit providing a reference clock signal to the memory, a first group of driver circuits providing CA signals to the memory, and a second group of driver circuits providing DQ signals to the memory. A plurality of the conductive traces which carry the DQ signals are constructed with a length longer than that of conductive traces carrying the reference clock signal in order to reduce an effective insertion delay associated with coupling the reference clock signal to latch respective incoming DQ signals.