Lecture On: Memory Unit (Primary)

Ashis Talukder, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Management Information Systems(MIS)
University of Dhaka
Memory
 One or more set of
chips that stores ALU
data or CONTROL

programmed
UNIT
INPUT OUTPUT

instructions either
UNIT
UNIT

temporarily or MAIN MEMORY

OR

permanently. RESISTERS

SECONDARY
MEMORY
Dr. Ashis Talukder, MIS, DU. 2
Storage Evaluation Criteria
 Memory capacity

 Access Time

 Cost per bit of storage

 Random Access

Dr. Ashis Talukder, MIS, DU. 3

Memory Terminologies
 Storage/Memory capacity
 It is the amount of data, which can be stored in the
storage unit.
 Higher Capacity is desired.
 Units of Memory capacity:
 Bit: 0 &1
 Byte: 1 byte = 8 bits
 Kilobyte (K or KB): 1 KB =1024 bytes
 Megabyte (M or MB): 1 MB =1024 KB
 Gigabyte (G or GB): 1 GB =1024 MB
 Terabyte (T or TB): 1 TB = 1024 GB
 Petabyte (P or PB): 1 PB = 1024 TB

Dr. Ashis Talukder, MIS, DU. 4

Memory Terminologies
 Access time
 This is the time required to locate and retrieve
stored data from the storage unit, in response
to a program instruction.
 Faster access time is preferred.
 Access Time = Seek Time + Latency Time +
original read/write Time

Dr. Ashis Talukder, MIS, DU. 5

Memory Terminologies
 Cost per bit of storage
 This is the cost of a storage unit for a given
storage capacity.
 Lower cost is desirable.

Dr. Ashis Talukder, MIS, DU. 6

Memory Terminologies
 Type of Memory Access
 Mode of Retrieving data
 Random Access:
 If the time taken to access data from the storage
unit is independent of the location of the data in
the storage unit, it is called random access
storage. (RAM)
 Sequential Access
 If the time taken to access data from the storage
unit is dependent of the location of the data in the
storage unit, it is called random access storage.
 To access any location, its previous locations need
to be accessed first. (Audio Tape)

Dr. Ashis Talukder, MIS, DU. 7

Memory Terminologies
 Volatile /Non-Volatile memory
 If the storage unit can retain the data stored in
it, even when the power is turned off or
interrupted, it is called non-volatile storage.
 If the data stored are lost, when the power is
turned off or interrupted, it is called volatile
storage. (Example: RAM)
 Non-volatile storage is desirable.
 Generally, primary storage units are volatile and
the secondary storage units are non-volatile.

Dr. Ashis Talukder, MIS, DU. 8

Memory Terminologies
 Memory Address: 0000
A
 Memory locations
0001 B
are identified by
numbers 0002 100

FFFD X

FFFE Y

FFFF

Dr. Ashis Talukder, MIS, DU. 9

Memory Terminologies
 Memory Word:
A
 When memory is read or written, a 0000
block of bit is read or written instead
of a single bit. 0001 B

 The block is considered to be a unit 0002 100

of operation/processing

 A set of bit with which read/write

operation is done in a certain
storage device is called memory
word
FFFD X
 Example: 08 bits or 01 Byte memory Y
word clearly 01000000 (08 bits) FFFE
represents 64 and its character is @;
here, this digital 08 bits in combine FFFF
known as a memory word

Dr. Ashis Talukder, MIS, DU. 10

Memory Terminologies
 Destructive:
 composed of capacitors, data disappears when
read operation is done, needs re-write operation
to retain data

 Non-destructive:
 reverse nature
 Example: semiconductor, switch, flash memory,
pen drive

Dr. Ashis Talukder, MIS, DU. 11

Memory Terminologies
 Memory store/write:
 The process of storing or writing data at the
specific location of the memory
 Data is stored as bits or block of bits
 Example: CD writing operation

 Memory read:
 Also called ‘fetch operation’
 To read stored data or to process that stored data
 A binary word is selected from a specific address
of memory and this is transferred to another
device
 Example: To hear a song from CD or any drive
Dr. Ashis Talukder, MIS, DU. 12
Classification of Memory

 Internal Processor Memory

 Registers, Cache

 Main Memory
 RAM, ROM.

 Secondary Memory
 Hard Drive, CD, Floppy etc.

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Memory Hierarchy

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Main Memory
 CPU can access directly
 to store and retrieve data very quickly than secondary
memory.
 The storage device used by a computer to hold the
currently executing program and its working data.
 Also known as Primary Memory.
 Generally, it is a temporary storage area.
 Physically, this memory consists of some chips either on
the motherboard, or on a small circuit board attached to
the motherboard.
 The rate of fetching data from the main memory is about
100 times faster than that from a high-speed secondary
storage.

Dr. Ashis Talukder, MIS, DU. 15

Types of Main Memory
 Random Access Memory (RAM)

 Read only Memory (ROM)

 Cache Memory

Dr. Ashis Talukder, MIS, DU. 16

Random Access Memory
 Random Access Memory
 Every location can be accessed independently. Access
time for every location is constant and independent
of it’s position.
 it can be read from or written into by the user.
 Used primarily to store user current programs and data.
 Temporary or Volatile memory.
 Semiconductor technology
 Types of RAM:
 Static RAM (SRAM)
 Dynamic RAM (DRAM)

Dr. Ashis Talukder, MIS, DU. 17

Static RAM
 SRAM stands for static RAM.
 Characterized by high speed and high cost.
 Does not require refreshing.
 Generally used by cache.
 Control complexity is less.
 Use six transistors to store data.

Dr. Ashis Talukder, MIS, DU. 18

Dynamic RAM
 DRAM stands for Dynamic RAM.
 Relatively slower and low cost memory.
 Requires refreshing periodically.
 Used for main memory.
 Relatively high control complexity.
 Uses one transistor and one capacitor to store a
single bit.
 Allows higher density.

Dr. Ashis Talukder, MIS, DU. 19

Factors Affecting Processing Speed - RAM

 The amount of RAM in a PC has a

direct affect on the system's
speed.
 The more RAM a PC has, the
more program instructions and
data can be held in memory,
which is faster than storage on
disk.
 If a PC does not have enough
memory to run a program, it
must move data between RAM
and the hard disk frequently. This
process, called swapping, can
greatly slow a PC's performance.

Dr. Ashis Talukder, MIS, DU. 20

Read Only Memory
 Read Only Memory
 Read write ratio is extremely high

 Non-volatile memory.
 Data stored permanently and
cannot be modified.

 ROM BIOS
 Stores Boot strapping program to
make the computer on
 Used in computer and other electronic
devices.

Dr. Ashis Talukder, MIS, DU. 21

Use of ROM
 Every computer requires a storage to store
initial program to run when it is powered on
(known as bootstrapping or booting up). It is
stored in ROM-BIOS.
 In modern PCs, ROM is used to store the basic
bootstrapping firmware for the main processor,
as well as the various firmware needed to
internally control self contained devices such as
graphics card, hard disks, DVD drives, etc.
 ROM are prevalent in embedded system.

Dr. Ashis Talukder, MIS, DU. 22

Read Only Memory
 Types of ROM
 Mask ROM
 PROM
 EPROM ROM
 EEPROM

Mask ROM PROM EPROM EEPROM

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Mask ROM
 Read Only Memory.
 Used for storing programs & data permanently.
 User may read data from ROM but cannot write
on ROM.
 Permanent and Nonvolatile memory.
 Manufacturer writes data on it at the time of
fabrication. Cannot be changed after that.

Dr. Ashis Talukder, MIS, DU. 24

Programmable Read Only Memory
(PROM)
 Can be written to or programmed via a
special device called a PROM programmer.
Typically, this device uses high voltages to
permanently destroy or create internal links
(fuses or anti-fuses) within the chip.
 A PROM can only be programmed once.
 The difference with Mask ROM is that
 Mask ROM is programmed by manufacturer
ONCE after the device is constructed.
 PROM is programmed by user ONCE after
buying blank device from market.
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Erasable Programmable ROM (EPROM)
 Can be erased by exposure to strong ultraviolet
light (typically for 10 minutes or longer), then
rewritten with a process that requires
application of higher voltage.
 Repeated exposure to UV light will eventually
wear out an EPROM, but the endurance of most
EPROM chips exceeds 1000 cycles of erasing
and reprogramming.
 EPROM chip packages can often be identified
by a quartz window which allows UV light to
enter.
Dr. Ashis Talukder, MIS, DU. 26
Electrically Erasable Programmable
ROM (EEPROM)
 Allows its entire or partial contents to be
electrically erased, then rewritten electrically,
so that they need not be removed from the
computer (or camera, MP3 player, etc.).
 Writing is much slower than reading from a
ROM.

Dr. Ashis Talukder, MIS, DU. 27

Flash Memory
 Modern type of EEPROM invented in 1984.
 Flash memory can be erased and rewritten
faster than ordinary EEPROM, and newer
designs feature very high endurance
(exceeding 1,000,000 cycles).
 Some variations of Flash memory Makes
efficient use of silicon chip area, resulting in
individual ICs with a capacity as high as 16 GB.
 This feature, along with its endurance and
physical durability, has allowed flash to replace
magnetic storage in some applications (such as
USB Flash Drives).
Dr. Ashis Talukder, MIS, DU. 28
Cache Memory
 System performance suffers when processor
waits for data from slow memory device.
 Cache memory is introduced between the CPU
and the main memory.
 Cache is a high speed memory for holding
recently accessed data in main memory.

CPU Main
Cache
Memory

Dr. Ashis Talukder, MIS, DU. 29

Cache Memory
 The amount of cache memory has a
tremendous impact on the computer's speed.
 Two types of cache:
 Level-1 L1 cache: CPU resident cache
 Level-2 L2 cache: Motherboard resident cache.

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