PRESENTATION ON MEMORY OF THE COMPUTER

WHAT IS MEMORY
The cognitive processes whereby past experience is remembered. Memory is collection of flip-flops which have inbuilt fabrication of millions of transisters and capacitaters which holds data in 0's and 1's. Capacitor acts as a holding cell for binary data,transisters allow memory circuitry to read The common unit describing a computer memory is byte. It is the amount of memory required to store a character,integer or fraction.

FUNCTIONS OF MAIN MEMORY

To act as buffer between the CPU and rest of the computer system. When the computer is off the main memory is empty ; when the computer is on the main memory is capable of receiving and holding a copy of software instructions. Temporary storage of a copy of applications.

TYPES OF INTERNAL MEMORY

Memory Non Volatile Volatile

ROM

RAM

PROM

Static

EPROM EEPROM

Dynamic

FLASH

Hard-Disk, CD, DVD, Floppy Disk, Magnetic Tape, USB Flash memory, SD Card

CMOS
(COMPLEMENTARY METAL-OXIDE SEMICONDUCTOR)
It is known as nonvolatile RAM or CMOS RAM. It is an on-board semiconductor chip powered by CMOS battery inside the computer that stores information such as system time and system settings for computer.

 It is used in batteries , motherboard, BIOS etc It is used in integrated circuits, static RAM, logic circuits, analog circuits, image sensors. It has high noise immunity and low static power consumption.

ROM
(READ ONLY MEMORY)
It is a non-volatile memory and never loses its contents. Data is stored permanently and thus can never be modified. Mainly used in firmware, in computers to store look up tables for evaluation of mathematical and logical functions. Useful for binary storage of cryptographic data to enhance information security.

TYPES OF ROM
PROM EPROM EEPROM.

PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory)

It can be written to or programmed by PROM programmer. It uses high voltage to permanently destroy or create internal links within a chip. It can be programmed only once.

EPROM Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory

It can be erased by exposure to strong UV light. Endurance of most EPROM chips exceeds thousand cycles of erasing and reprogramming.

EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory )

It is similar to EPROM but allows its contents to be electrically erased. Writing and flashing an EEPROM is much slower than reading from ROM

RAM (RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY)

It is the most common type of memory, volatile and thus loses its contents when computer is shut off or due to power failure. It is like an electronic scratch pad inside the computer and holds data and program instructions while the CPU works with them.

RAM (RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY)

It takes the form of integrated circuits that allow to store data to be accessed in any order i.e. , at random. It has tremendous impact on the speed and power of computer.

SRAM
Static Random Access Memory. It uses multiple transistors, two or four for each memory cell but doesnt have a capacitor in each cell.

 Static indicates no need to refresh as it uses bi-stable latching circuitry to store each bit. It gives faster access to data. SRAM consumes more power.

DRAM Dynamic Random Access Memory

It stores each bit of data in a separate capacitor within an integrated circuit. It has memory cells with a paired transistors and capacitors requiring constant refreshing It consumes more power. It is cheaper and smaller.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SRAM & DRAM

SRAM Consumes more power. Low density and high speed. Structurally complicated as each memory cell requires 6 transistors. It is expensive and occupies more space. DRAM Less power compared to SRAM. High density and low speed. Structurally similar as it has only one transistor and capacitor. It is cheaper and smaller as compared to SRAM.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RAM & ROM

RAM Volatile in nature. Temporary storage of data. Data is both written and read from this memory as well. It has tremendous impact on the speed and power of computer. ROM Non-volatile in nature. Permanent storage of data. Data can only be read. It doesn't have any such function .

CACHE MEMORY
It is a small amount of (less than 1MB)high speed memory resides very close to CPU. It is designed to supply the CPU with most frequent requested data. It takes a fraction of time to access cache memory.

TYPES OF CACHE MEMORY

Level 1-It is the CPU resident cache, it holds instructions that have recently run. Level 2- This is used in mother board to add more speed, it hold potential upcoming instructions.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN L1 & L2 CACHE

L1 CACHE It is primary cache. It is extremely quick but also expensive. It is fast memory. It is very small from 8kb to 64kb. L2 CACHE It is secondary cache. It is larger but slightly slower than L1. Most processors have L2 about 256kb. It usually from 64kb to 2MB in size.

FLASH MEMORY
Flash memory is a constantly powered nonvolatile memory that can be erased and reprogrammed in units of memory called blocks.It is often used to hold control codes such as BIOS. ADVANTAGES: 1.Faster data access time 2.Enormously durable.

 Resist better kinetic shock,withstand pressure and high temperature. Applications: Memory cards UB flash drives Laptops

VIRTUAL MEMORY
Virtual memory gives an application program the impression that it has contiguous working memory. This memory makes the programming of large applications easier and efficient. APPLICATIONS: Spreadsheets Multimedia play.

AUXILLIARY MEMORY..
These are additional cheaper storage devices used to serve as a back up for storing information for future use by CPU. It handles business , scientific and technical applications. The secondary storage is almost indispensible if one really want to fully exploit the computer potential.