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Memory Hierarchy
The memory hierarchy design primarily consists of several storage devices in a
computer system. The majority of computers came with extra storage to allow them to
run faster than the main memory. The memory unit is used for storing programs and
data. It fulfils the need for the storage of information.
The memory hierarchy is important part fo GATE CS syllabus. The additional storage
with main memory capacity enhances the performance of the general-purpose
computers and makes them efficient. Only those programs and data the processor
needs reside in the main memory. Information can be transferred from auxiliary memory
to main memory when needed.
Memory Hierarchy Levels
Primary (internal) and secondary (external) memory are the two forms of the designed
memory hierarchy. A hierarchical pyramid for computer memory is shown in the
diagram below.
Registers
The register is usually a static RAM or SRAM in the computer's processor that holds the
data word, normally 64 or 128 bits. The essential register is the program counter
register, which is found in all processors. In addition, a status word register and an
accumulator are used by the majority of CPUs. A status word register is used for
decision-making, and an accumulator is used to store data like a calculator is used to
store numbers. Computers with complex instruction sets typically have many registers
for receiving main memory, whereas RISC-based computers have fewer registers.
Cache Memory
Small, fast storage memory is used to improve average access time. Therefore, we can
say that cache is a very high-speed memory that rapidly increases processing speed by
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CPU cannot proceed to execute it and must wait. The latency is, thus, the time the CPU
waits to obtain the data.
• The latency of the main memory directly influences the efficiency of the CPU.
Auxiliary Memory
A computer system's auxiliary memory is the lowest-cost, highest-capacity, and slowest-
access storage. Auxiliary memory is used to store programs and data that are stored for
long periods or are not in use right away. Magnetic tapes and magnetic discs are the
most common types of auxiliary memory.
Magnetic Disks
A magnetic disk is a circular plate constructed of metal or plastic coated with
magnetized material. Both sides of the disk are often used, and several disks may be
stacked on one spindle with reading/write heads available on each surface. magnetic
disks are level 4 component in memory hierarchy.
All disks rotate together at high speed. Bits are stored in the magnetized surface in
spots along concentric circles called tracks. The tracks are commonly divided into
sections called sectors.
Magnetic Tapes
A magnetic tape is a magnetic recording medium made of a thin magnetizable coating
on a long, narrow strip of plastic film. These are level 5 in memory hierarchy. Bits are
recorded as magnetic spots on the tape along several tracks. Magnetic tapes can be
stopped, started to move forward, or in reverse. Read/write heads are mounted in each
track so that that data can be recorded and read as a sequence of characters.
Memory Hierarchical Design
There are various factors such as typical size, bandwidth, access time, etc which are
important as per the design. Check out the Memory Hierarchical design shown below:
Secondary
Level Name Registers Cache Memory Main Memory
memory
Typical Size <1KB <16MB <16GB >100GB
Customized SRAM (Flip- DRAM
Implementation Magnetic devices
Multiport Flops) (Capacitor)
Bandwidth
(20,000-1,00,000) (5,000-10,000) (1,000-5,000) (20-150)
(MB/s)
In the memory hierarchy, the access time is the time delay between data availability and
requests to read or write because the access time increases as we move from the top to
the bottom of the memory hierarchy.
Advantages of Memory Hierarchy
Memory hierarchy is necessary. Here are a few advantages of memory hierarchy:
• Memory distribution is easy and cost-effective.
• External destruction is removed.
• Data can be spread all over.
• Allows for pre-paging and demand paging.
• Swapping will be a lot easier.
