1/4/2019 Basics of Computers Primary Memory
BASICS OF COMPUTERS - PRIMARY MEMORY
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/basics_of_computers/basics_of_computers_primary_memory.htm
Copyright © tutorialspoint.com
Advertisements
Memory is required in computers to store data and instructions. Memory is physically organized as a large
number of cells that are capable of storing one bit each. Logically they are organized as groups of bits called
words that are assigned an address. Data and instructions are accessed through these memory address.
The speed with which these memory addresses can be accessed determines the cost of the memory. Faster the
memory speed, higher the price.
Computer memory can be said to be organized in a hierarchical way where memory with the fastest access
speeds and highest costs lies at the top whereas those with lowest speeds and hence lowest costs lie at the
bottom. Based on this criteria memory is of two types – primary and secondary. Here we will look at
primary memory in detail.
The main features of primary memory, which distinguish it from secondary memory are −
It is accessed directly by the processor
It is the fastest memory available
Each word is stored as well as
It is volatile, i.e. its contents are lost once power is switched off
As primary memory is expensive, technologies are developed to optimize its use. These are broad types of
primary memory available.
RAM
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/cgi-bin/printpage.cgi 1/2
1/4/2019 Basics of Computers Primary Memory
RAM stands for Random Access Memory. The processor accesses all memory addresses directly,
irrespective of word length, making storage and retrieval fast. RAM is the fastest memory available and hence
most expensive. These two factors imply that RAM is available in very small quantities of up to 1GB. RAM is
volatile but my be of any of these two types
DRAM DynamicRAM
Each memory cell in a DRAM is made of one transistor and one capacitor, which store one bit of data.
However, this cell starts losing its charge and hence data stored in less than thousandth of a second. So it
needs to be refreshed thousand times a second, which takes up processor time. However, due to small size of
each cell, one DRAM can have large number of cells. Primary memory of most of the personal computers is
made of DRAM.
SRAM S RAM
Each cell in SRAM is made of a flip flop that stores one bit. It retains its bit till the power supply is on and
doesn’t need to be refreshed like DRAM. It also has shorter read-write cycles as compared to DRAM. SRAM is
used in specialized applications.
ROM
ROM stands for Read Only Memory. As the name suggests, ROM can only be read by the processor. New
data cannot be written into ROM. Data to be stored into ROM is written during the manufacturing phase
itself. They contain data that does not need to be altered, like booting sequence of a computer or algorithmic
tables for mathematical applications. ROM is slower and hence cheaper than RAM. It retains its data even
when power is switched off, i.e. it is non-volatile. ROM cannot be altered the way RAM can be but
technologies are available to program these types of ROMs −
PROM P rogrammableROM
PROM can be programmed using a special hardware device called PROM programmer or PROM burner.
EPROM E rasableP rogrammableROM
EPROM can be erased and then programmed using special electrical signals or UV rays. EPROMs that can be
erased using UV rays are called UVEPROM and those that can be erased using electrical signals are called
EEPROM. However, handling electric signals is easier and safer than UV rays.
Cache Memory
Small piece of high speed volatile memory available to the processor for fast processing is called cache
memory. Cache may be a reserved portion of main memory, another chip on CPU or an independent high
speed storage device. Cache memory is made of fast speed SRAMs. The process of keeping some data and
instructions in cache memory for faster access is called caching. Caching is done when a set of data or
instructions is accesses again and again.
Whenever the processor needs any piece of data or instructions, it checks the cache first. If it is unavailable
there, then the main memory and finally secondary memory is accessed. As cache has very high speed, time
spent in accessing it every time is negligible as compared to time saved if data indeed is in the cache. Finding
data or instruction in cache is called cache hit.
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/cgi-bin/printpage.cgi 2/2
