Chapter-6 Computer Memory

6.1 Computer Memory:

A memory is just like a human brain. It is used to store data and instructions.
Computer memory is the storage space in the computer, where data is to be
processed and instructions required processing are stored. The memory is
divided into large number of small parts called cells. Es location of cell has a
unique address, which varies from zero to memory size minus one. For
example if the computer has 64k words, then this memory unit has 64 1024=
65536 memory locations. The address of these locations varies from 0 to
65535.
Memory is a necessary part of the computer. It is a basic need to store and
analyze data and accordingly give responses to the commands inferred on the
computer by the users. Memory the storage section of the computer's
functioning. The information for immediate use and for the computer
hardware devices and their functioning is stored in the memory too. High-
speed operations take place in the memory for the processing of information
in the computer. Similar the human brain, there are different types of memory
storage available on the computer. With changing times and constant
development in technology, the memory is also upgraded.
6.2 Types of Memory:
Memory is primarily of two types:
i. Primary Memory/Main Memory/Volatile Memory.
ii. Secondary Memory/Non-volatile Memory.
6.3 Primary memory:
This type of memory includes both the RAM (Random Access Memory) and
the ROM (Read Only Memory). It stores very small amounts of data and can
be accessed very quickly when the computer is running on power mode.
Primary memory is also known as main memory or may also refer to "Internal
memory" and primary storage. All those types of computer memories that are
directly accessed by the processor using data bus are called primary memory.
That allows a processor to access stores running programs and currently
processed data that stored in a memory location.
The use of memories is therefore mandatory in all systems using a
microprocessor, including computers. An example of Primary memory is
RAM and ROM that store programs. These memories are limited in capacity
and manufactured by using integrated circuits (IC) or semiconductor device.
Its speed of Data accessing is faster than secondary memory. It is more
expensive than secondary memory.
When you turn on the computer, Generally CPU searches for essential codes
in RAM to get it. Otherwise, it goes to ROM. Yes, they both chips collectively
called primary memory in a computer system.
Characteristics of Main Memory:
i. These are semiconductor memories.
ii. It is known as the main memory.
iii.. Usually volatile memory.
iv. Data is lost in case power is switched off.
v. It is the working memory of the computer.
vi. Faster than secondary memories.
vii. A computer cannot run without the primary memory.
➤ RAM (Random Access Memory):

The Word "RAM" stands for "Random Access Memory" or may also refer
to short-term memory. It's called "random" because you can read store data
randomly at any time and from any physical location. It is a temporal
storage memory. RAM is volatile that only retains all the data as long as the
computer powered. It is the fastest type of memory. RAM stores the
currently processed data from the CPU and sends them to the graphics unit.
Two types of RAM are:
i. DRAM: DRAM stands for Dynamic RAM and it is the most common
type of RAM used in computers. The oldest type is known as single
data rate (SDR) DRAM but newer computers use faster dual data rate
(DDR) DRAM. DDR comes in several versions including DDR2
DDR3 and DDR4 which offer better performance and are more energy
efficient than DDR However different versions are incompatible, so it
is not possible to mix DDR2 with DDR3, DRAM in a computer system.
DRAM consists of a transistor and a capacitor in each cell.
ii. SRAM: SRAM stands for Static RAM and it is a particular type of RAM
which is faster than DRAM but more expensive and bulker, having six
transistors in each cell. For those reasons SRAM is generally only used as a
data cache within a CPU itself or as RAM in very high-end server systems.
A small SRAM cache of the most imminently-needed data can result in
significant speed improvements in a system.
ROM (Read-Only Memory):
Data can be only read and not written to it.
It is a fast type of memory. It is a non-
volatile memory In case of no power, the
data is stored in it and then accessed by the
computer when power is turned on. It
usually contains the Bootstrap code which
is required for the computer to interact
with the hardware systems and understand
its operations and functions according to
the commands given to it. In simpler
devices used commonly, there is ROM in
which the firmware data is stored to get
them to function according to their need.
There is generally three broad type of ROM:
i. PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory): PROM stands for
programmable ROM. It can be programmed only be done once and read many.
Unlike ROM, PROMs retain their contents without the flow of electricity.
PROM is also non-volatile memory. The significant difference between a
ROM and a PROM is that a ROM comes with pre-written by the computer
manufacturer whereas PROM manufactured as blank memory. PROM can be
programmed by PROM burner and by blowing internal fuses permanently.
ii. EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory): This memory
type retains its contents until it exposed to intense ultraviolet light that clears its
contents, making it possible to reprogram the memory.

iii. EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory):

EEPROM can be burned (programmed) and erased by first electrical waves in a
millisecond. A single byte of a data or the entire contents of device can be
erased. To write or erase this memory type, you need a device called a PROM
burner.
Difference between RAM and ROM:
RAM ROM
RAM stands for Random Access ROM stands for Read Only Memory.
Memory.
RAM data is volatile. Data is present till ROM data is permanent. Data remains
power supply is present. even after power supply is not present.
RAM data can be read, erased or ROM data is read only.
modified.
RAM is used to store data that CPU needs ROM is used to store data that in needed
for current instruction processing to bootstrap the computer.

RAM speed is quite high. ROM speed is slower than RAM.

CPU can access data stored on RAM. Data to be copied from ROM to RAM so
that CPU can access its data.
RAM is generally small and of low ROM is generally larger and of high
capacity. capacity.
RAM is used as CPU Cache, Primary ROM is used as firmware by
Memory. microcontrollers.
RAM is costly. ROM is cheap.
6.4 Secondary Memory:
Secondary memory is also known as secondary storage. The secondary
memory is accessed indirectly via input/output operations. This memory
is also called permanent the table o persistent memory. It is characterized
by its slowness and cheapness, relative to the RAM and by its permanent
appearance.

The CPU does not directly process it. Its content firstly copied into rum
and then transferred to CPU. The Secondary memory store data that can
be easily retrieved only by the main memory and used by the processor. It
is slower than RAM but larger storage capacities than primary memory.

The processed data is generally stored in a digital format either on a hard

disk drive (HDD) or floppy disk drives, optical drives, tape drives,
external hard drives, RAID and USB storage devices, which is called
Secondary memory or removable mass storage devices(MSDs). Primary
storage devices are known as Random access memory (RAM) While
RAM (Random Access Memory) has fewer data storage capacity and the
data got disappeared when the computer is turned off.
 Characteristics of Secondary Memory:
i. These are magnetic and optical memories.
ii. It is known as the backup memory.
iii. It is a non-volatile memory.
iv. Data is permanently stored even if power is switched off.
v. It is used for storage of data in a computer.
vi. Computer may run without the secondary memo
vii. Slower than primary memories.
➤ Difference types of Secondary Memory:
i. Hard disk drive (HDD):
A hard disk drive (HDD) is a non-volatile computer storage device
containing magnetic disks or platters rotating at high speeds. It is a
secondary storage device used to store data permanently, random access
memory (RAM) being the primary memory device. Non-volatile means
data is retained when the computer is turned off. A hard disk drive is
also known as a hard drive.
iii. Floppy Disk:
A floppy disk is a small magnetic disk that was used in the past for storing
computer data and programs. Floppy disks were used especially with personal
computers. Alternatively referred to as a floppy or floppy disk, a floppy diskette
is a storage medium capable of holding electronic data, like a computer file. The
floppy diskette was created in 1967 by IBM as an alternative to buying hard
drives, which were extremely expensive at the time.
The picture is an example of a 3.5" floppy diskette; one of the most commonly
used floppy diskettes, capable of storing 1.44 MB of data. To read and write to
this diskette, it is inserted in a floppy drive.
iv. Pen Drive:
Commonly known as a USB flash drive it is a portable device which means it
can be easily transferred from one location to another due to its compact
design it looks like a pen shape and therefore it is named a pen drive.
The pen drives are used in a wide range in the world they have easily replaced
CDs, Floppy Disk due to their huge data storing capacity and faster data
transferring speed. Pen drives, USB Flash drives, thumb drives come in huge
data storage capacity from 2 GB to 128 GB.
v. Magnetic disk:
A magnetic disk is a storage device that uses a magnetization process to write,
rewrite and access data. It is covered with a magnetic coating and stores data in the
form of tracks, spots and sectors. Hard disks, zip disks and floppy disks are
common examples of magnetic disks.
Magnetic disks are coated with a magnetic material such as iron oxide. There are
two types: hard disks made of rigid aluminium or glass, and removable diskettes
made of flexible plastic. In 1956 the first magnetic hard drive (HD) was invented at
IBM; consisting of 50 21-inch (53-cm) disks, it had a storage capacity of 5
megabytes.
Data is stored on and retrieved from magnetic disks by means of a disk drive. See
also access time, fixed disk drive, Winchester technology & memory hierarchy.
vi Removable Hard Drive:
A computer hard drive that is mounted in a special plastic or metal cartridge,
enabling it to be removed and inserted into other computers with similar
removable bays.
The picture is an example of a removable hard drive in a server rack. An external
hard drive is a portable storage device that can be attached to a computer through
a USB or FireWire connection or wirelessly. External hard drives typically have
high storage capacities and are often used to back up computers or serve as a
network drive.
vii. Cache memory:
The Cache Memory (Pronounced as "cash") is the volatile computer memory
which is very nearest to the CPU so also called CPU memory, all the Recent
Instructions are Stored into the Cache Memory. It is the fastest memory that
provides high-speed data access to a computer microprocessor. Cache meaning is
that it is used for storing the input which is given by the user and which is
necessary for the computer microprocessor to perform a Task. But the Capacity of
the Cache Memory is too low in compare to Memory (RAM) and Hard Disk.
What it sacrifices in size and price, it makes up for in speed. Cache memory
operates between 10 to 100 times faster than RAM, requiring only a few
nanoseconds to respond to a CPU request.
6.5 Difference between Primary and Secondary Memory:

Primary Memory Secondary Memory

To store something in computer To store something in computer

temporarily is called primary memory. permanently is called secondary
memory.
The primary memory is categorized as The secondary memory is always a non-
volatile & nonvolatile memories. volatile memory.
These memories are also called internal Secondary memory is known as a
memory. Backup memory or Additional memory
or Auxiliary memory.
Data is directly accessed by the Data cannot be accessed directly by the
processing unit. processor It is first copied from
secondary memory to primary memory.
Only then CPU can access it.
It's a volatile memory meaning data It's a non-volatile memory so that the
cannot be retained in case of power data can be retained even after power
failure. failure.
 Primary Memory Secondary Memory
It holds data or information that is It stores a substantial amount of data
currently being used by the and information. Capacity is
processing unit. Capacity is usually in generally from 200 GB to terabytes.
16 to 32 GB.
Primary memory can be accessed by Secondary memory is accessed by I/O
the data bus. channels.
Primary memory is costlier than Secondary memory is cheaper than
secondary memory. primary memory.
Example: RAM, ROM, Cache Example: HDD, Floppy Disk etc.
memory etc.

6.6 Memory Capacity:

The memory capacity is the amount of data a device can store at any given time
in its memory. For example computer software may list memory requirements
similar to those shown below:
 Recommend 32 MB of memory.
Minimum 16 MB of memory.

Here, the developer of the program recommends, for optimal performance

that the computer have 32 MB of memory. The software is capable of running
with only 16 MB of memory. although its performance may suffer.
Bit: A bit is a binary digit, the smallest increment of data on a computer. A bit
can hold only one of two values: 0 or 1, corresponding to the electrical values
of off or on respectively.
Byte: A Byte is just 8 Bits and is the smallest unit of memory that can be
addressed in many computer systems. The following list shows the
relationship between all of the different units of data.
0 (off) or (On) = 1 Bit
8 Bits = 1 Byte
1024 Bytes = 1 Kilobyte
1024 Kilobytes = 1 Megabyte
1024 Megabyte = 1 Gigabyte
1024 Gigabyte = 1 Terabyte
 Q. Exercise-6
1. What do you mean by Storage Device/ Memory? Write some name of
storage device.
2. What are the types of memory? Describe it. Or, Describe Primary and
Secondary memory.
3. What is hard disk and Floppy disk?
4. Short note on:
✓PROM, EPROM.
✓EEPROM.
✓Pen drive
✓CD/DVD-ROM and CD-R.
5. What is the difference between Primary and Secondary memory. Or
Difference between volatile and nonvolatile memory.
6. What is the difference RAM and ROM.?
7. What is Bit and Byte?
8. Define bit? How many bits are equal to one byte?
9. What is cache Memory?
10. Describe memory capacity?