Which memory type is characterized as being more expensive to manufacture but offers high-speed performance?

Static RAM (SRAM) is known for its high-speed performance and is more costly to manufacture compared to other types of memory like Dynamic RAM (DRAM). The primary reason for the higher cost is the architecture of SRAM, which uses multiple transistors (typically four to six) for each memory cell, allowing it to retain data bits as long as power is supplied. This configuration results in faster access times as it requires fewer cycles to read and write data compared to DRAM.

In contrast, DRAM uses a single transistor and capacitor pair to store each bit, which makes it less expensive to produce but slower in operation due to the need for periodic refreshing to maintain data integrity. The other options, such as DDR2 and SDRAM, represent different iterations and types of DRAM that, while improving performance over earlier memory types, still cannot match the speed or the non-volatile nature of SRAM in terms of direct access and processing capabilities.