Contents

MEMORY UNIT .............................................................................................................................................. 2

Cache Memory .............................................................................................................................................. 2
Primary memory ........................................................................................................................................... 3
Types of RAM: ........................................................................................................................................... 3
Types of ROM ............................................................................................................................................ 3
Secondary Memory ....................................................................................................................................... 4
MEMORY UNIT AND ITS COMPONENTS
MEMORY UNIT
The memory unit consists of cache memory and primary memory. Primary memory or main memory of
the computer is used to store the data and instructions during execution of the instructions. Random
Access Memory (RAM) and Read Only Memory (ROM) are the primary memory. In addition to the main
memory, there is another kind of storage device known as the secondary memory. Secondary memory is
non-volatile and is used for permanent storage of data and programs. A program or data that has to be
executed is brought into the RAM from the secondary memory.

Cache Memory
 The data and instructions that are required during the processing of data are brought from the
secondary storage devices and stored in the RAM. For processing, it is required that the data and
instructions are accessed from the RAM and stored in the registers. The time taken to move the data
between RAM and CPU registers is large. This affects the speed of processing of computer, and results in
decreasing the performance of CPU.

 Cache memory is a very high speed memory placed in between RAM and CPU. Cache memory
increases the speed of processing.

 Cache memory is a storage buffer that stores the data that is used more often, temporarily, and makes
them available to CPU at a fast rate. During processing, CPU first checks cache for the required data. If
data is not found in cache, then it looks in the RAM for data.

 To access the cache memory, CPU does not have to use the motherboard’s system bus for data
transfer. (The data transfer speed slows to the motherboard’s capability, when data is passed through
system bus. CPU can process data at a much faster rate by avoiding the system bus.)

Cache memory is built into the processor, and may also be located next to it on a separate chip between
the CPU and RAM. Cache built into the CPU is faster than separate cache, running at the speed of the
microprocessor itself. However, separate cache is roughly twice as fast as RAM.  The CPU has a built-in
Level 1 (L1) cache and Level2 (L2) cache, as shown in Figure 2.3. In addition to the built-in L1 and L2
cache, some CPUs have a separate cache chip on the motherboard. This cache on the motherboard is
called Level 3 (L3) cache. Nowadays, high-end processor comes with built-in L3 cache, like in Intel core
i7. The L1, L2 and L3 cache store the most recently run instructions, the next ones and the possible ones,
respectively. Typically, CPUs have cache size varying from 256KB (L1), 6 MB (L2), to 12MB (L3) cache.

 Cache memory is very expensive, so it is smaller in size. Generally, computers have cache memory of
sizes 256 KB to 2 MB. 2.3.2 Primary Memory
Primary memory
 Primary memory is the main memory of computer. It is used to store data and instructions during the
processing of data. Primary memory is semiconductor memory.

 Primary memory is of two kinds—Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read Only Memory (ROM).

 RAM is volatile. It stores data when the computer is on. The information stored in RAM gets erased
when the computer is turned off. RAM provides temporary storage for data and instructions.

 ROM is non-volatile memory, but is a read only memory. The storage in ROM is permanent in nature,
and is used for storing standard processing programs that permanently reside in the computer. ROM
comes programmed by the manufacturer.

 RAM stores data and instructions during the execution of instructions. The data and instructions that
require processing are brought into the RAM from the storage devices like hard disk. CPU accesses the
data and the instructions from RAM, as it can access it at a fast speed than the storage devices
connected to the input and output unit (Figure 2.4).

 The input data that is entered using the input unit is stored in RAM, to be made available during the
processing of data. Similarly, the output data generated after processing is stored in RAM before being
sent to the output device. Any intermediate results generated during the processing of program are
stored in RAM.

 RAM provides a limited storage capacity, due to its high cost.

Types of RAM:
There are two main types of RAM: Dynamic RAM (DRAM) and Static RAM (SRAM).
 DRAM (pronounced DEE-RAM), is widely used as a computer’s main memory. Each
DRAM memory cell is made up of a transistor and a capacitor within an integrated
circuit, and a data bit is stored in the capacitor. Since transistors always leak a small
amount, the capacitors will slowly discharge, causing information stored in it to drain;
hence, DRAM has to be refreshed (given a new electronic charge) every few milliseconds
to retain data.
 SRAM (pronounced ES-RAM) is made up of four to six transistors. It keeps data in the
memory as long as power is supplied to the system unlike DRAM, which has to be
refreshed periodically. As such, SRAM is faster but also more expensive, making DRAM
the more prevalent memory in computer systems.

Types of ROM

-ROM: Classic or “mask-programmed” ROM chips contain integrated circuits. A ROM chip
sends a current through a specific input-output pathway determined by the location of
fuses among the rows and columns on the chip. The current can only travel along a fuse -
enabled pathway and thus can only return via the output the manufacturer chooses.
Rewiring is functionally impossible, and so there’s no way to modify these types of ROM
chips. While producing a template for an original ROM chip is laborious, chips made
according to an existing template can be much more affordable.

-PROM: Programmable ROM, or PROM, is essentially a blank version of ROM that you
can purchase and program once with the help of a special tool called a programmer. A
blank PROM chip allows current to run through all possible pathways; the programmer
chooses a pathway for the current by sending a high voltage through the unwanted fuses
to “burn” them out. Static electricity can create the same effect by accident, so PROMs
are more vulnerable to damage than conventional ROMs.

-EPROM: Erasable Programmable ROM chips allow you to write and rewrite them many
times. These chips feature a quartz window through which a specialized EPROM
programmer emits a specific frequency of ultraviolet light. This light burns out all the ti ny
charges in the EPROM to reopen its circuits. This exposure effectively renders the chip
blank again, after which you can reprogram it according to the same process as a PROM.
EPROM chips will eventually wear out, but they frequently have lifetimes of ov er 1000
erasures.

-EEPROM: To modify an Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM chip, apply

localized electrical fields to erase and rewrite the data. EEPROMs have several
advantages over other types of ROM. Unlike the earlier forms, you can rewrite EEPROM
without dedicated equipment, without removing it from the hardware, and in specifically
designated increments. You don’t have to erase and rewrite everything to make a single
edit.

Secondary Memory
 The secondary memory stores data and instructions permanently. The information can be stored in
secondary memory for a long time (years), and is generally permanent in nature unless erased by the
user. It is a non-volatile memory.

 It provides back-up storage for data and instructions. Hard disk drive, floppy drive and optical disk
drives are some examples of storage devices.

 The data and instructions that are currently not being used by CPU, but may be required later for
processing, are stored in secondary memory.

 Secondary memory has a high storage capacity than the primary memory.

 Secondary memory is also cheaper than the primary memory.

 It takes longer time to access the data and instructions stored in secondary memory than in primary
memory. Magnetic tape drives, disk drives and optical disk drives are the different types of storage
devices.