ɐ mˈɛmɚɹi kəntɹˈoʊlɚ kæn biː ɐ sˈɛpɹət tʃˈɪp ɔːɹ ˈɪntᵻɡɹˌeɪɾᵻd ˌɪntʊ ɐnˈʌðɚ tʃˈɪp, sˈʌtʃ ɐz bˌiːɪŋ plˈeɪst ɔnðə sˈeɪm dˈaɪ ɔːɹ æz ɐn ˈɪntᵻɡɹəl pˈɑːɹt əvə mˌaɪkɹoʊpɹˈɑːsɛsɚ; ɪnðə lˈæɾɚ kˈeɪs, ɪɾ ɪz jˈuːʒuːəli kˈɔːld ɐn ˈɪntᵻɡɹˌeɪɾᵻd mˈɛmɚɹi kəntɹˈoʊlɚ ˌaɪˌɛmsˈiː.
A memory controller can be a separate chip or integrated into another chip, such as being placed on the same die or as an integral part of a microprocessor; in the latter case, it is usually called an integrated memory controller (IMC).