COMPUTER MEMORY

ASSIGNMENT # 2

CPEN-1114-INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTING

SUBMITTED BY:
SHAHID ALI

SUBMITTED TO:
ENGR. SIDRAH SHABBIR

DEPARTMENT OF SOFTWARE ENGINEERING

KHAWAJA FAREED UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
RAHIM YAR KHAN

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 COMPUTER MEMORY
The essential component of the computer is its Memory. It is assembled on the
motherboard as it is a storage device used for storing data and instructions
for performing a task on the system.
A memory is used to store data and instructions. It is the storage space in a
computer, where data is to be processed and all the instructions are stored that
are required for processing.
Storage devices are hardware devices that are capable of storing and fetching
data. Hard drives or optical discs are an example of such storage devices.

TYPES OF COMPUTER MEMORY

There are two types of memories:
1) Primary memory
2) Secondary memory

1. Primary Memory (Main Memory):

It is also referred to as Main Memory

• It also stores the operating system and data required to run the computer.
• It is faster than secondary memory.
• It contains all the data and instructions that are required to be processed

It is further divided into two subcategories RAM and ROM.

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 i) RAM (Random Access Memory):

It is Random Access Memory because of the random selection of memory

locations. It performs both read and writes operations on memory. It stores
data temporarily.

If power failures happen in the system during memory access, then you will lose
your data permanently. So, RAM is a volatile memory.

RAM categorized into following types:

a. DRAM
b. SRAM

a) SRAM (Static random-access memory):

It holds data in a static form, that is, as long as the memory has the power as
the dynamic RAM, it is not needed to refresh it again and again.

• Static RAM provides faster access to data and is more expensive than
DRAM as each cell must contain multiple transistors.
• SRAM does not use capacitors.
• SRAM is also highly recommended for use in PCs, peripheral equipment,
printers, LCD screens, hard disk buffers, router buffers and buffers in
CDROM / CDRW drives.

b) Dynamic RAM (Dynamic random-access memory):

It is a type of random-access memory used in computing devices. It is made

up of capacitors and transistors.

• This type of memory uses separate capacitors or transistors to stores each

bit of data and it has two states of value in one bit called 0 and 1.
• As compared with other RAM's it is less expensive.
• Data were written by DRAM at the byte-level.
• In DRAM, data is written at the byte-level and it reads data at the
multiple-byte page level.
• DRAM requires less power than other RAMs.

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 ii) ROM (Read Only Memory):
ii) ROM (Read Only Memory)

ROM offers huge types of standards to save data as it is a permanent

memory location. But it works with the read-only operation. whenever power
failure occurs during the ROM memory work in computers then no data lose
happens.

• It is Used where the programming requires no change and also in

embedded systems or.
• It is Used in peripheral devices and calculators.

Types of Read Only Memory (ROM)

a) PROM (Programmable read-only memory)

b) EPROM (Erasable Programmable read only memory)
c) EEPROM (Electrically erasable programmable read only memory)

a) PROM (Programmable read-only memory)

Developers created a type of ROM known as programmable read-only

memory (PROM) because Creating ROM chips from scratch are time-
consuming and very expensive.

• It can be coded by the user. Once coded, the data and instructions in
it cannot be changed.
• It is used to store permanent data in digital electronic devices.
• It can be bought at a low cost as compared to other ROMs.

b) EPROM (Erasable Programmable read only memory)

This is the type of memory that can be reprogrammed. We can erase data
from it and reprogram it that is erase all the previous data by using high
voltage Ultraviolet light.

• It is required to erase each cell in EPROM.

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c) EEPROM (Electrically erasable programmable read only memory)

The data can be erased and reprogrammed by applying an electric charge.

There is no need for ultraviolet light and we can erase only portions of the
chip.

• It was a replacement for PROM and EPROM chips and later it is used
for computer's BIOS.
• Configuration’s parameters are stored by using EEPROM. In modern
computers, they replaced BIOS CMOS memory.
• It is required that data to be written or erased by EEPROM one byte at a
time.

2. Secondary Storage:

Secondary Memory is also called “storage device” and “auxiliary memory “,

“external memory “. Secondary storage devices are non-volatile in nature.
it means that data does not discard while power turn-off, in which all data store
for long time. Secondary memory has the speed of access of data is very slow
compare to primary memory, and cheaper as well. Without primary memory,
those secondary storage devices are useless because for processing the
secondary memory must be needed the primary memory, first of all data are
transferred into primary memory then these data make for executable.

Types of Secondary Memory:

Secondary memory (Storage Devices) can be used in computer either internally

or externally. Secondary Storage devices (memory) have four examples like as

• Magnetic Storage Devices

• Optical Storage Devices
• Flash Memory Devices
• Online Cloud System

Magnetic Storage Devices:

In the Magnetic storage devices, all data are stored with using magnetized
medium, and those types of data saved in that medium in the binary form

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like as 0 and 1. This magnetic storage has also non-volatile storage nature.
Today’s, mostly people are preferred to magnetic medium because on the
magnetic storage devices can be performed read/write activities very easily.
Magnetic storage devices have huge capacities for storing data that it’s more
attractive point. These storage devices are not more costly but their data
accessing power is slow, but this magnetic mechanism also to be used in the
RAM that have good data accessing power to other.

Examples:
• Floppy disk

A floppy disk is a magnetic storage medium for computer systems. The floppy
disk is composed of a thin, flexible magnetic disk sealed in a square plastic
carrier. In order to read and write data from a floppy disk, a computer system
must have a floppy disk drive (FDD).

• Hard drive

A hard disk drive (sometimes abbreviated as a hard drive, HD, or HDD) is a

non-volatile data storage device. It is usually installed internally in a computer,
attached directly to the disk controller of the computer's motherboard.

• Magnetic strip
• Super Disk
• Tape cassette
• Zip diskette

Optical Storage Device:

In the optical storage devices, all read and write activities are performed by
light. All recording information stores at an optical disk. As per the opinions of
data scientist that compact space is most useful for huge data storage. Their big
advantages are not more costly, light weight, and easy to transport because it
is removable device unlike hard drive.

Examples:
• Blu-ray disc
• CD-ROM disc
• CD-R and CD-RW disc.

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 • DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW disc.

Flash Memory Devices:

Flash Memory was introduced by Dr. Masuoka Fujio in 1980. Flash memory
is also known as electronically erasable programmable read only memory
(EEPROM), because in which piece of code like as programming can be write
and erased by electrically. Flash memory also uses for the storing data to
computers as well as electronic devices such as USB flash drives, MP3
players, digital cameras and solid-state drives. Flash memory is non-volatile
in nature because all data are persisted in the memory when power is turn-off.

Examples:

• USB flash drive, jump drive, or thumb drive.

• CF (CompactFlash)
• M.2
• Memory card
• MMC
• NV Me
• SDHC Card
• Smart Media Card
• Sony Memory Stick
• SD card
• SSD
• xD-Picture Card

Online Cloud System:

Clouding is systematically model for storing data in computer, and in which

entire data are stored in logically nature. Those clouding system are managed
by other hosting companies. With the help of online clouding, all data can be
access by couples of users anytime and anywhere. Big advantages are not
place limitation as well as no need carry any storage device.

There are some types:

• Cloud storage:

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Cloud storage allows you to save data and files in an off-site location that
you access either through the public internet or a dedicated private
network connection. Data that you transfer off-site for storage becomes the
responsibility of a third-party cloud provider. The provider hosts, secures,
manages, and maintains the servers and associated infrastructure and ensures
you have access to the data whenever you need it.

• Network-attached storage:

Network-attached storage (NAS) is dedicated file storage that enables multiple

users and heterogeneous client devices to retrieve data from centralized
disk capacity. Users on a local area network (LAN) access the shared
storage via a standard Ethernet connection. NAS devices typically do not
have a keyboard or display and are configured and managed with a browser-
based utility. Each NAS resides on the LAN as an independent network node,
defined by its own unique Internet Protocol (IP) address.

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