Objectives

• Understand the meaning of primary storage

including the role of:
• Random Access Memory (RAM)
• Read Only Memory (ROM)

• Describe the difference between RAM and ROM and

why both are needed
• Describe what is meant by virtual memory including:
• How it is created and used
• The reason it is necessary
Memory
Computer architecture and storage

An assembly program contains the following instruction:

MOV ACC, 053

This instruction moves the value in memory address 053 into a register.

(b) State the name of the register used in this instruction.

Accumulator / ACC (1)

Memory
Computer architecture and storage

When the instruction is executed, describe the stages, CPU components and

registers that are involved in executing the instruction on the CPU.

The program counter / PC will have the memory address of the

instruction (1)
The address will be copied to the memory address register / MAR (1)
The memory location will be sent through the address bus (1)
And the instruction then fetched from RAM (1)
Through the data bus (1)
The instruction will then be sent to the current instruction register (CIR)
(1)
Decoded by the control unit (1)
And the instruction will be executed. (1)
The value will be passed to the accumulator register (1).
The PC / program counter will be incremented (1).
Memory
Computer architecture and storage

A child’s plastic drum kit toy contains an embedded system.

(a) Explain what is meant by an ‘embedded system’.

A computer system (1) dedicated to a specific task (1) that is typically held in
ROM / non-volatile memory (1). An embedded system can be part of a larger
mechanical or electrical system (1).
Any 2 marks from the above.
 Memory
Computer architecture and storage

Embedded systems are used as part of security systems.

Explain why most home security alarms make use of embedded

systems.

The main unit has a microprocessor (1) which is used interpret the input device
readings and decide whether to ring the alarm (1).
Memory
Computer architecture and storage

Starter
• What are four types of
memory that are used
in computers systems?
Memory
Computer architecture and storage

Starter
• From previous lessons:
• CPU registers
• Cache

• This lesson:
• RAM
• ROM
• Virtual memory
Memory
Computer architecture and storage

Types of primary storage

• There are many types of memory used in computers
• In the Von Neumann architecture, primary storage is directly
accessed by the CPU and is needed to store programs that
are currently running
• The two types used as primary storage are:
• RAM (Random Access Memory)
• ROM (Read Only Memory)

RAM ROM
Memory
Computer architecture and storage

RAM
• RAM stores programs or data that are running
or open
• It is directly accessed by the CPU
• When your computer is turned off, data stored in RAM is lost
• RAM is volatile as it loses data if the power is off

• All your programs and data are stored permanently

on your hard drive
• This is known as non-volatile storage as it doesn’t lose the
data if the power is off
Memory
Computer architecture and storage

Worksheet
• Complete Task 1 on Worksheet 4
Memory
Computer architecture and storage

RAM
RAM
• When the computer is first turned on,
no data is stored in RAM

Empty
Memory
Computer architecture and storage

Operating system
RAM
• The computer first loads the operating
system from your hard drive into RAM

Operating
system
Memory
Computer architecture and storage

Programs and data

RAM
• When applications or programs are
loaded, they are copied into RAM from
the hard drive Documents
in use
• Documents and files (data) that are used with
those programs are also opened by copying Clipboard
them into RAM
Excel
• RAM starts to fill up as all these
Word
programs, documents and files are copied
Operating
system
Memory
Computer architecture and storage

Running out of space

RAM
• You now want to open a
browser to search the Internet
Documents
• The browser software needs in use

more memory than you have Browser

Clipboard
free in RAM
Excel
• What do you think happens?
Word

Operating
system
Memory
Computer architecture and storage

Virtual memory
Hard Disk RAM
• Virtual memory is part of the
hard drive used as an extension
Browser
to RAM
• A page of data is a fixed-length block Documents
in use
of virtual memory
• When pages of data are moved Clipboard
between RAM and hard disk this is
known as swapping or paging Word
• What are the advantages and
disadvantages of using part of the
Operating
hard disk in this way? system
Excel
Memory
Computer architecture and storage

Virtual memory
• Advantages
• Uses cheap secondary storage on the hard drive
• Prevents error messages saying ‘out of memory’ – the
programs and files will still open
• Disadvantages
• Accessing virtual memory is very slow
• To access data, the existing data in RAM needs to be copied
to the virtual memory, then data in virtual memory needs to be
copied to RAM
Memory
Computer architecture and storage

What happens when RAM

completely fills up?
Memory
Computer architecture and storage

Read-only memory (ROM)

• Some data needs to be permanently held in primary
storage, even when a computer has no power
• Read-only memory (ROM) is used to store this data
• Data is read from ROM, but cannot be written to it
• It is non-volatile as the data isn’t lost if the power is off

• What is stored
in ROM on a
modern computer?
Memory
Computer architecture and storage

ROM
• ROM is used in modern computers to store:
• The initial program that is run when the computer is turned on
• This is known as the bootstrap
• It tells the computer where it will find the operating system on
the hard drive
• It also stores the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS)
• The BIOS can run without a hard drive or other secondary
storage being present
• It controls basic technical configuration of the computer such
as the processor speed and system time
Memory
Computer architecture and storage

RAM vs ROM differences

Characteristic RAM ROM
Size Typically 4 GB – 32 GB Typically 4 MB – 8 MB
Used to store Running programs and BIOS and bootstrap
operating system
Read ability Yes Yes
Write ability Yes No
Volatile Yes No
Memory
Computer architecture and storage

Memory speed
• The speed that data can be accessed changes
through the different components in a computer
• The slower components are far cheaper for each byte of
data stored
Memory
Computer architecture and storage

Worksheet
• Complete Task 2 on Worksheet 4
Memory
Computer architecture and storage

Plenary
• In pairs test each other on the following:
1. What does RAM stand for? Haya
2. What does ROM stand for? Ammar
3. Name Three difference between RAM and ROM Sheika
4. Why is virtual memory much slower than RAM? Alayham
Memory
Computer architecture and storage

Plenary
• RAM stands for Random Access Memory
• ROM stands for Read Only Memory
• RAM can be written to, ROM can’t
ROM is non-volatile, RAM is volatile
• Typically, a modern personal computer will have 8-32 GB of
RAM available