Lec 0.4 Computer Memory

TYPES OF MEMORIES IN
COMPUTER SYSTEM AND

MEMORY STORAGE DEVICES
Er. Shree Krishna Khadka

Electronics & Communication
INTRODUCTION
In computing memory refers to
the physical devices used to
store programs (sequences of
instructions) or data (e.g.
program state information) on a
temporary or permanent basis
for use in a computer or other
digital electronic device.
Short Review
Computer System Components

Central Processing Unit
Control
Input ALU Output
Output
Unit
Devices Devices
Devices
Special Primary
Cache
Purpose
Memory Storage
Processors
Secondary
Storage
Devices
Communication Devices
Three levels of memory hierarchy
Principle: the closer the memory is to the CPU, the faster it is.
Memory addresses
• Memory is a collection of
cells, each with a unique
physical/memory address
• Each cell can hold one byte
or 8 bits
With one by we can represent one character

101 102 103 in ASCII Code
201 202 203 Example: “A” is 65 in ASCII code and 01000001

in binary representation
301 302 303
Storage Capacity
Unit
------------ ------------------------ ------------
kilobyte 210 bytes 103 bytes
megabyte 220 bytes 106 bytes
gigabyte 230 bytes 109 bytes
terabyte 240 bytes 1012 bytes
petabyte 250 bytes 1015 bytes
exabyte 260 bytes 1018 bytes
CLASSIFICATION- BIG PICTURE
Registers
2ns
Cache (I, II, III)
Volatile SRAM
DRAM
Primary SDRAM
Memory Types & (Semiconductor – chip). RAM EDRAM
Main Memory
Storage Devices EDO
FLASH RAM
PROM
Non-volatile EPROM
ROM EEPROM
Tape
Magnetic memory HD, Zip Disk
Secondary FDD
(Devices)
Optical
CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW
Memory DVD-ROM, DVD-R 5ms
DVD- RW
Magnetic Storage Devices - Diskettes
• Diskette drives, also known as floppy disk drives, read and write to
diskettes (called floppy disks or floppies).
• In disks the areas to save data are organized as a set of concentric circles
called Tracks. Floppy disks have 80 tracks. The disks are further divided
into pie-slice Sectors.
• 300 rpm
• Diskettes size: 3.5-inch.

TYPES OF MEMORIES
PRIMARY OR MAIN MEMORY
• Main memory is divided into two parts :
Random Access memory (RAM), should be
better known as Read Write Memory (RWM).
Read Only Memory (ROM) .
RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY
(RAM)
• A RAM memory chip is an
integrated circuit (IC)
made of millions of
transistors and capacitors.
In the most common form
of computer memory,
dynamic random access
memory (DRAM), a
transistor and a capacitor
are combines to create a
memory cell, which
represents a single bit of
data.
TYPES OF RAM
• STATIC RAM
 Semi conductor memory
 Uses flip flop to store each bit of memory so does
not need to be periodically refreshed
 Fast and consumes low power
 Expensive and has complex structure(6
transistors) so not used for high capacity
applications
• DYNAMIC RAM
Stores each bit of memory in capacitor in an
intrgrated circuit
Real capacitors leak charge so capacitors need
to be refreshed periodically
Simple structure (1 capacitor and 1 transistor
per bit) so it has very high density
READ ONLY MEMORY
(ROM)
• New contents cannot be
added
• Used to store the
instructions of routine
type,permanent in nature
and used to control or
supervise the hardware
TYPES OF ROM
• PROGRAMMABLE READ
ONLY MEMORY (PROM)
 Programmed to record
the information using a
facility PROM –
programmmer
 Once the information is
recorded it cannot be
changed
• ERASABLE PROGRAMMABLE
READ ONLY MEMORY (EPROM)
 Information can be erased and
chip can be reprogrammed to
record different information using
PROM programmer
 In formation is erased using UV
radiations
 It is of two types- Ultra Voilet
Erasable Programmable Read
Only Memory (UEPROM) and
Electrically Alterable
Programmable Read Only
Memory (EAPROM)
• ELECTRICALLY ERASABLE
PROGRAMMABLE READ
ONLY MEMORY
(EEPROM)
 Memory is erased by
electrical signals
 Provides easy means to
store temporary or
permanent information
in the form of ROM
memory
CACHE MEMORY
 Faster and expensive than RAM
 It improves the computer’s
performance and is less than
512 KB
 Processor can use it to store
frequently accessed data and
programs instructions
 It is of two types – L1 / primary
cache(inside microprocessor)
and L2/ secondary cache(in the
mother board or near the
microprocessor)
SECONDARY MEMORY
• It supplements the main
memory. It is
permanent memory.
• Programs, data entered
into the system,
intermediate results and
final results produced
are stored in the
secondary memory
CLASSIFICATION
• MAGNETIC BASED
STORAGE DEVICES
 Prepared using
using formatting
 Data is recorded on
disk in concentric
circular bands
called tracks.
 MAGNETIC TAPE
 FLOPPY DISK
 HARD DISK
• OPTICAL STORAGE MEDIA
 Stores large amount of data
in some formats as much as
the entire hard disk
 Reads data by focusing a
laser- generated beam of
light on light on disc’s
surface
 CD- ROM discs
 DVD- ROM discs
Magnetic Storage Devices
- How Magnetic Storage Works
• A magnetic disk's medium contains iron particles, which can be
polarized—given a magnetic charge—in one of two directions (north or
south).
• Each particle's direction represents a 1 (on) or 0 (off), representing each

bit of data that the CPU can recognize.
• A disk drive uses read/write heads containing electromagnets to create

magnetic charges on the medium.
As the medium
rotates, the head
writes the data.
Formatted Disk
3.5 inch
floppy
and drive
Hard Disk Drive
• Purpose:
– Long-term, nonvolatile storage
– Large, inexpensive, slow level in the storage
hierarchy
• Disk composition
– A magnetic disk consist of a collection of platters
(1to 20 per disk) that rotate on a spindle.
– Disk surface divided into tracks (1000 to 4800 per
platter).
– Tracks are divided into sectors (64 per track), which
are the smallest unit that can be read or written.
• Up to 10,000 rpm
Magnetic Disks
• A read/write head travels across a spinning magnetic
disk, retrieving or recording data
The organization of a
magnetic disk
Optical Storage Devices –
How Optical Storage Works
• An optical disk is a high-capacity storage medium. An optical drive uses

reflected light to read data.
• To store data, the disk's metal surface is covered with tiny dents (pits) and
flat spots (lands), which cause light to be reflected differently.
• When an optical drive shines light into a pit, the light cannot be reflected
back. This represents a bit value of 0 (off). A land reflects light back to its
source, representing a bit value of 1 (on).
1 0
Optical storage devices
• CD-ROM: compact disc ROM (Read Only Memory)
– Capacity: 650MB
• CD-R: compact disc recordable
• CD-RW: compact disc rewritable
• DVD: digital versatile disc
– Capacity: 4.7GB – 17GB
• DVD-R
• DVD-RW (2 versions: + (plus) and
– (dash)
DVD (Digital Versatile Disk)
– Allows up to 17 gigabytes of storage (from 4.7
GB to 17 GB).
– Compatible with older CD-ROM technology.
– The four versions of the DVD:

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TYPES OF MEMORIES IN

COMPUTER SYSTEM AND

Er. Shree Krishna Khadka

Computer System Components

With one by we can represent one character

201 202 203 Example: “A” is 65 in ASCII code and 01000001

• Diskettes size: 3.5-inch.

• Each particle's direction represents a 1 (on) or 0 (off), representing each

• A disk drive uses read/write heads containing electromagnets to create

• An optical disk is a high-capacity storage medium. An optical drive uses

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