Memory and Storage

Memory

ROM

Masked
ROM

PROM

RAM

EROM

EEROM

Static Ram

Dynamic
Ram

Memory Hierarchy
Increasing performance
and
increasing cost

Slow and
inexpensive

Memory Hierarchy (contd)

Registers

top in the hierarchy

matched in speed to the CPU

but are large and consume significant power

number of registers in a processor are small

Secondary and off-line storage devices

at the bottom of the hierarchy

cost per stored bit small in terms of money and

power

but access time is very long compared to

registers

Random Access Memory(RAM)

The term random means any memory location

can be accessed in the same amount of time
regardless of its position in the memory.

Volatile memory

Types of RAM:

SRAM

DRAM

Static RAM

Static RAM (SRAM) based on flip flops

Contents of each location persist as long as
power is applied.

Fast but relatively large

Consume a lot of power

Used for memory applications that are small but

fast

Dynamic RAM

Dynamic RAM (DRAM) employ capacitors

Capacitor stores electric charge whose level
represents a 1 or 0
Capacitors dissipate with time and hence the
charge must be restored frequently
DRAMs
smaller, slower than SRAMs
support low cost, low power and high density and
hence used in main memory

Memory Chip organization

RAM chip

A0 Am-1 : Address lines from 0 to m-1

CS : Chip Select (CS = 0, chip selected)

WR : ReadWrite (WR = 0, write operation)

Read Only Memory(ROM)

Data stored in these chips is nonvolatile -- it is

not lost when power is turned off.
On turn on, the computer loads BIOS from ROM
Data stored in these chips is either
unchangeable or requires a special operation to
change
Applications: Videogames, calculators,
microwave oven, etc

Read Only Memory(ROM) (contd)

Lets see the circuit for a ROM that stores four

four-bit words(0101, 1011, 1110, 0000)
PROM burner allows contents of the ROM to be
overwritten only once
EPROMs could be written several times
EEPROMs allow the content to be rewritten
electrically

Flash Memory

A section of memory cells can be erased in a

single step, or 'flash', thus the name
Nonvolatile memory
Flash memory is used for easy and fast
information storage in such devices as digital
cameras, mobile, video game consoles

Did you know

Storage :
Provides capacity for all
the files and information
you need( e.g. capacity
of the computers hard
disk)
Memory :
Provides your working
space ( e.g. the amount
of RAM installed in the
computer)

Memory

In computing memory refers to the

physical devices used to store
programs or data on the temporary or
permanent basis for use in a computer
or other digital electronic device
Main memory is divided into two parts :
- Random Access memory ( RAM )
should be
better known as Read Write
Memory
- Read Only Memory (ROM)

Random Access Memory (RAM)

Structure :
A set of memory chips, each of them
is an integrated circuit (IC) made of
millions of transistors and capacitors
Volatile - their state is lost or reset
when power is removed from the
system.
Usage :
Holds data/application programs
from input devices or storages
Capacity : Determines the number
and size of the program can be run
at the same time as well as the
amount of data that can be
processed immediately.
Bus : processing speed

Types of RAM
Static Random Access
Memory (SRAM)

Dynamic Random Access

Memory (DRAM)

Semi conductor memory

Use flip-flop to store each bit of

memory so does not need to be
periodically refreshed

Faster and consumes low power

Expensive and have complex
structure (6 transistors) so not
use in high capacity applications

Store each bit of memory in

capacitor in an integrated circuit
Real capacitors leak charge so
capacitors need to be refreshed
periodically
Simple structure ( 1 transistor and
1 capacitor per bit) so it has very
high density

Read only memory (ROM)

Has contents which are fixed

when the chip is manufactured

Holds the bootstrap loader

part of the operating system

Retains its data when the

computer is switched off

Types of ROM
Programmable ROM (PROM)Empty of data when the chip is
manufactured, can be
programmed by the user. Once
programmed the data cannot be
erased.
Erasable PROM (EPROM)Like PROM only the chip can be
removed from the computer and
the program erased and another
stored in its place using
ultraviolet light.
Electrically EPROM (EEPROM)
Like EPROM but electricity is
used to erase and reprogram
selected contents.

Storage

Storage any devices that are capable of

holding information, even when the power is off
(non-volatile).

Ex: Floppy disk drive, hard disk drive,

USB flash disk,...

Offline storage type of storage that can be

removed and can be accessed from any
computers when connected.

Types of storage device

Optical storage devices

Magnetic storage devices

Flash memory devices

Optical storage devices

Compact Disc (CD)

Capacity: 700 MB
Available from 1982

DVD
Capacity: 4.7 GB
Available from 1995

Blu-ray Disc
Capacity: 25 GB
Available from 2006

Optical storage devices

Advantages:
Small and portable

Cheap to produce

Large market of music, movies and games

Most desktop computers or laptops are equipped with

CD/DVD/Blu-ray drive

Disadvantages:
Fragile, easy to get scratched
x
Slower data transferring rate
x
Required specified drives to write data to the discs
x
Limited number of writes
x

Magnetic storage devices

Floppy disk
First available in 1971

Capacity: 1.44 MB (3 12-inch floppy disk)

Discontinued.

Since 2010, no motherboard is still

manufactured with the support of floppy disk
drive.

Magnetic storage devices

Hard disk drive (HDD)
First introduced in 1956
Became dominant in the 1960s

Capacity keeps increasing

Max. capacity: 4 TB
(as of 2013)
Continuously improved.

Maintained an important position

of modern servers and PCs.

Magnetic storage devices

Advantages (HDD):
Large and increasing capacity

High transferring speed

No data loss when power is off (non-volatile)

Cheap price compared to other storage media (cost per MB)

Disadvantages (HDD):
Possible damages and data loss due to head crash
x
Because of working on mechanism basis, it will be eventually
broken
x
In case of internal hard drive, it is not easy to be transferred to
another computer
x
High power consumption
x

Flash memory devices

USB Flash drive
Commercially available in 2000

Max. capacity: 1 TB (as of 2013)

Small size

Ideal solution for storing small data

Flash memory devices

Solid state drive (SSD)
First introduced in 1995

Max. capacity: 1 TB (as of 2013)

Very high transferring speed in comparison to

normal physical hard disk

Flash memory devices

Advantages:
Large and increasing capacity

High transferring speed

Small size, portability

Low power consumption

Work more quietly than physical hard drive

Disadvantages:
High price compared to hard disks (cost per MB)
x
Limited number of reads/writes (write endurance rating)
x
Easy to lose because of small size
x

Memory cycle timing waveforms

access time

cycle time

the time required to complete a write cycle

access time cycle time

the time required to select a word and read it

equal to a fixed number of CPU clock

See Fig. 7-4

Memory Decoding

Decoder

select the memory word specified by the input

address

2-dimensional coincident decoding is a

more efficient decoding scheme for large
memories

Memory cell

One bit memory cell

4X4 RAM

Coincident Decoding
two-dimensional selection scheme

Decoder with k input and 2k output requires 2k

AND gates with k input
k input decoder can be implemented by two k/2
input decoders with one for column and another
for row
e.g., 101024 decoder can be implemented by
two 532 decoders

Example for two-dimensional

decoder

Address multiplexing

64K-word memory

Internal logic of 32X8 ROM

Programmomg the ROM according to

Taable 7-3

denote a connection in place of a dot used for

permanent connection

Example 7-1
Design a combinational circuit with 3-input using a ROM.
Output = square(input)

A2

A1

A0

B5

B4

B3

B2

B1

B0

16

25

36

49

ROM implementation of Example

7-1

Types of ROMs

The required path in a ROM may be

programmed in four different ways.

mask programming (mask ROM)

Mask is done by Fab. company during the last

fabrication

Customer must fill out the truth table

High cost

programmable read-only memory(PROM)

allows users to program in Lab.

the program is irreversible

Types of ROMs

Erasable PROM(EPROM)

by ultraviolet light

electrically-erasable PROM(EEPROM or EPROM)

by electrical signal
can be erased without removing it from tis socket