With the name of Allah Who is Most Merciful And Beneficial

Assignment :
Subject

Computer Architecture

Topic

Memory

Submitted To

Prof. Fawad javed

Submitted By

Mehwish Mansoor

Roll Number

BS(CS)-016

Table of Contents
1.

Memory:............................................................................................................... 2

2.

Volatile vs. non-volatile memory..........................................................................3

3.

RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY:...................................................................................3

i.

Working of RAM:................................................................................................ 3

ii.

TYPES OF RAM................................................................................................... 4
a)

Static RAM:..................................................................................................... 4

b)

DRAM:............................................................................................................ 4

ROM:..................................................................................................................... 5

3.
i.

Types of ROM:................................................................................................... 5
a)

PROM :........................................................................................................... 5

b)

EPROM :.......................................................................................................... 6

c)

EEPROM (Electrically Erasable PROM) :.................................................................6

4.

Flash Memory :......................................................................................................... 7

5.

CMOS Memory:..................................................................................................... 7

6.

DDR RAM:............................................................................................................. 8

7.

SIMM:................................................................................................................... 8

8.

DIMM:................................................................................................................... 9

10.

Cache memory:...................................................................................................... 9

11.

Cache memory levels............................................................................................ 10

1. Memory:
Computer memory is any physical device capable of storing information temporarily or
permanently. For example, Random Access Memory (RAM), is a volatile memory that stores
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information on an integrated circuit used by the operating system, software, and hardware.
Below is an example picture of a 512MB DIMM computer memory module.

2. Volatile vs. non-volatile memory

Memory can be either volatile and non-volatile memory. Volatile memory is a memory that loses
its contents when the computer or hardware device loses power. Computer RAM is an example
of a volatile memory and is why if your computer freezes or reboots when working on a
program, you lose anything that hasn't been saved.Non-volatile memory, sometimes abbreviated
as NVRAM, is a memory that keeps its contents even if the power is lost. EPROM is an example
of a non-volatile memory.

3. RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY:

Random Access Device allows stored data to be accessed directly in any random order.
RAM is type of temporary storage media. It does not store data permanently. It is a type of
Volatile memory. This means that RAM loses all its data once the power is turned off.

i.

Working of RAM:
When the computer first starts a program it sends an address to RAM to begin retrieving that
program. The RAM address just consist a series of 1s and 0s representing ON and OFF
wire. RAM does not do anything with that address until the CPU turns on the SET or
ENABLE wire. If the enable wire is turned ON the RAM automatically senses the data
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corresponding to that address back to the CPU, that data is then processed by the CPU
accordingly.

ii.

TYPES OF RAM
RAM is basically of two types
1. Static RAM
2. Dynamic RAM

a) Static RAM:
Static RAM is a type of RAM that keeps the data fed to it. It never has to be refreshed. This
makes static RAM significantly faster than dynamic RAM . Static memory cell takes up a lot
more space on a chip than a dynamic memory cell.This makes Static RAM expensive than
DRAM.

b) DRAM:
DRAM needs to be refreshed thousands of times per second while SRAM does not need to
be refreshed, which is what makes it faster than DRAM. DRAM supports access times of
about 60 nanoseconds, SRAM can give access times as low as 10 nanoseconds. Despite
SRAM being faster, it's not as commonly used as DRAM because it's more expensive. Both
types of RAM are volatile, meaning that they lose their contents when the power is turned
off.

3. ROM:
Read only memory: Its non volatile memory, ie, the information stored in it, is not lost even if
the power supply goes off. Its used for the permanent storage of information. It also posses
random access property. Information can not be written into a ROM by the users/programmers.
In other words the contents of ROMs are decided by the manufactures.

i.

Types of ROM:

The following types of ROMs an listed below :

a) PROM : Its programmable ROM. Its contents are decided by the user. The user can
store permanent programs, data etc in a PROM. The data is fed into it using a PROM
programs.

b) EPROM : An EPROM is an erasable PROM. The stored data in EPROMs can be erased
by exposing it to UV light for about 20 min. Its not easy to erase it because the EPROM
IC has to be removed from the computer and exposed to UV light. The entire data is
erased and not selected portions by the user. EPROMs are cheap and reliable.

c) EEPROM (Electrically Erasable PROM) : The chip can be erased &

reprogrammed on the board easily byte by byte. It can be erased with in a few
milliseconds. There is a limit on the number of times the EEPROMs can be
reprogrammed, i.e.; usually around 10,000 times.

4. Flash Memory :
Its an electrically erasable & programmable permanent type memory. It uses one transistor
memory all resulting in high packing density, low power consumption, lower cost & higher
reliability. Its used in all power, digital cameras, MP3 players etc.

5. CMOS Memory:
1. CMOS is an acronym for complementary metal oxide semiconductor. In short, CMOS
defines the type of material from which the chip is made.
2. Your PC uses a special memory called the CMOS memory to store specifics about your
system, such as the number and type of disks, the amount of memory, the video type, and
the current system date and time. If you change your hardware configuration, you may
have to run the CMOS setup program to inform your computer of the changes.
3. To access your PCs CMOS settings, you normally press a keyboard combination after
your computer completes its power-on self-test. The documentation that accompanies
your PC wills specify the keyboard combination your must press.
4. When you display your CMOS settings, write down the current vales. Place your notes in
a safe place. Should you ever need to restore the settings, you will be glad you took notes.
5. Like all batteries, your CMOS battery will eventually fail. At that time, you will need to
replace the battery and then restore the previous settings.

6. DDR RAM:
Double-Data-Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory, better known as DDR
SDRAM or DDR RAM for short, is a type of very fast computer memory. It's based on the same
architecture as SDRAM, but uses the clock signal differently to transfer twice the data in the
same amount of time.
In a computer system, the clock signal is an oscillating frequency used to coordinate interaction
between digital circuits. Simply put, it synchronizes communication. Digital circuits designed to
operate on the clock signal may respond at the rising or falling edge of the signal. SDRAM
memory chips used only the rising edge of the signal to transfer data, while DDR RAM transfers
data on both the rising and falling edges of the clock signal, making it essentially twice as fast as
SDRAM.
RAM speed works in conjunction with the front side bus (FSB) of a computer system. The FSB
is the two-way data channel that sends information from the central processing unit (CPU)
throughout the motherboard to the various components, including the RAM, BIOS chips, hard
drives and PCI slots. Therefore, a computer system with a FSB of 133MHz running DDR
SDRAM will essentially perform like a 266MHz machine.

7. SIMM:
Acronym for single in-line memory module, a small circuit board that can hold a group
of memory chips.

Typically,

SIMMs

hold

up

to

eight

(on Macintoshes)

or

nine

(on PCs) RAM chips. On PCs, the ninth chip is often used for parity error checking. Unlike
memory chips, SIMMs are measured in bytes rather than bits. SIMMs are easier to install than
individual memory chips.

8. DIMM:
Dual Inline Memory Module (DIMM) DIMM is a memory module with 168 pins as shown in
Figure . DIMMs are commonly used today and support 64-bit transfer.
9. RIMM:
Rambus Inline Memory Module (RIMM) RIMM is a 184-pin memory module that uses
only the RDRAM, as illustrated in Figure . Smaller modules called SO-RIMM have a
160-pin connector. Some systems require that RIMM modules be added in identical pairs
while others allow single RIMMs to be installed.

10. Cache memory:

Cache memory, also called CPU memory, is random access memory (RAM) that a computer
microprocessor can access more quickly than it can access regular RAM. This memory is
typically integrated directly with the CPU chip or placed on a separate chip that has a
separate bus interconnect with the CPU.

The basic purpose of cache memory is to storeprogram instructions that are frequently rereferenced by software during operation. Fastaccess to these instructions increases the overall
speed of the software program.

11. Cache memory levels

Cache memory is fast and expensive. Traditionally, it is categorized as "levels" that describe its
closeness and accessibility to the microprocessor:

Level 1 (L1) cache is extremely fast but relatively small, and is usually embedded in the
processor chip (CPU).

Level 2 (L2) cache is often more capacious than L1; it may be located on the CPU or on a
separate chip or coprocessor with a high-speed alternative system bus interconnecting the
cache to the CPU, so as not to be slowed by traffic on the main system bus.

Level 3 (L3) cache is typically specialized memory that works to improve the
performance of L1 and L2. It can be significantly slower than L1 or L2, but is usually double
the speed of RAM. In the case of multicore processors, each core may have its own dedicated
L1 and L2 cache, but share a common L3 cache. When an instruction is referenced in the L3
cache, it is typically elevated to a higher tier cache.

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