A method and apparatus for performing a search in a processor-in-memory (PIM) system having a first processor and at least one memory module includes receiving one or more images by the first processor. The first processor sends a query for a search of memory for a matching image to the one or more images to at least one memory module, which searches memory in the memory module, in response to the received query. The at least one memory module sends the results of the search to the first processor, and the first processor performs a comparison of the received results from the at least one memory module to the received one or more images.