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Computer Memory System 1

The document discusses the key characteristics of computer memory systems, including their location, capacity, unit of transfer, access methods, performance metrics, physical types, characteristics, and organization. Computer memory forms a hierarchy with internal memory like registers and cache providing fast access but lower capacity than main memory, while external memory like disks and tapes have higher capacity but slower access times. Memory performance is measured by access time, cycle time, and data transfer rate, with different definitions for random access memory (RAM) versus sequential/direct access memory. [/SUMMARY]

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Javeria Shoaib
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25 views

Computer Memory System 1

The document discusses the key characteristics of computer memory systems, including their location, capacity, unit of transfer, access methods, performance metrics, physical types, characteristics, and organization. Computer memory forms a hierarchy with internal memory like registers and cache providing fast access but lower capacity than main memory, while external memory like disks and tapes have higher capacity but slower access times. Memory performance is measured by access time, cycle time, and data transfer rate, with different definitions for random access memory (RAM) versus sequential/direct access memory. [/SUMMARY]

Uploaded by

Javeria Shoaib
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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COMPUTER MEMORY SYSTEM

No single technology is optimized in satisfying the memory requirement for a computer system. A
typical computer system is equipped with a hierarchy of memory subsystem.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPUTER MEMORY SYSTEM:


• LOCATION:
• Internal: Processor Registers, Cache, Main Memory
• External: Optical Disks, Magnetic Disks, Tapes, (Peripheral devices accessible via some I/O
Controller)

• CAPACITY:
• Expressed in terms of numbers of bytes or Number of words.
• Word length can be 8, 16 or 32 bits.

• UNIT OF TRANSFER:
• Number of bits read out or written into memory in a unit time.
• For Internal Memory Unit of Transfer is number of lines connected to a component.
It may be equal to word length or larger.
• For External Memory Unit of Transfer are usually referred as Blocks.

• ACCESS METHOD:
Linear Sequential, Direct, Random or Associative Access Method.
• Linear Sequential Method: Time to Access an arbitrary record is highly variable
depending on W/R Head’s current and desired location.
• Direct Access Method: Individual blocks or record have a unique address
based on Physical location. Access is direct to the desired block then sequential for
the required address.
• Random Access Method: Each addressable location has a unique addressing
mechanism. Thus, access time is constant. Any location can be selected at Random.
Main Memory and Some Cache systems have Random Access.
• Associative Access Method: A storage device in which a location is identified by
what is in it rather than by its position is known as Associative Access Memory.
• Access is made based on the content or part of content of a location. This is a
Random-Access type that enable a comparison of desired information with the
saved information.
• Thus, a word is searched / retrieved based on all / or a portion of its content rather
than its address.
• Each location has its own addressing mechanism & retrieval time is constant.
independent of location or prior access pattern.
• Cache / Virtual Memory storage may employ this kind of access method.

• PERFORMANCE:
Performance of memory system are measured based on three parameters.
• Access Time, Cycle Time and Data Transfer Rate.
• Access Time: It has different definition for RAM (RAM & Associative Access
Memories) and Non-RAM (Direct and Sequential Access Memories)
• For RAM Access Time is defined as time required from the instant a request appears
in an Address Register until the time the desired information appears in the output
buffer or the target register.
• For Non-RAM access time is time it takes to position Read-Write Mechanism at the
desired location.
• Time Required from the instant an instruction is decoded until the time the desired
information is Found but NOT Read.
• Time required to Read the record will depend upon the length of the record, thus
not included in Access Time.
• In RAMs, Access Time is made constant by properly organizing the addressing
scheme and the storage media.
• In Non-RAMs Access Time depend on the following factors:
• Location of the information required.
• Current position of the storage system relative to the desired information.
• Cycle: Time: It is defined only for RAMs, how frequently we can make memory
references. Cycle Time = Ta + Ts
Where Ta = Access Time
Ts = Transient Time
 Transfer Rate: It is defined as the Rate at which data can be transferred into or out
of a memory unit.
 For RAM Transfer Rate = 1 / Cycle Time
 For Non-RAMs the Following relationship is valid:
o Tn = Ta + N/R
o R = N / (Tn – Ta)
o Tn = Average Access Time to read or write N bits
o Ta = Average Access Time
o N = Number of bits
o R = Transfer Rate in bits / sec (bps)

• PHYSICAL TYPE: Semiconductor, Optical, Magnetic, Magneto Optical


• PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Volatile / Non Volatile, Erasable / Non-Erasable.
• ORGANISATION: Memory Modules

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