Computer Memory

Pictures of Computer Memory

Definition of computer memory

Physical devices used to store programs
or data
State information of a computing
system
Kept active in some physical structure
Memory denotes to temporary state
devices
Storage is reserved for permanent data

History of Computer Memory

In the early 1940s, memory
technology mostly permitted a
capacity of a few bytes
The first electronic programmable
digital computer, the ENIAC
ENIAC uses thousands of octal-base
radio vacuum tubes
In the early 1940s, acoustic delay line
memory developed by J. Presper Eckert
Alternatives of delay line ,the Williams
tube and Selectron tube, were

History of Computer Memory

Non-volatile memory In the late 1940s

Jay Forrester, Jan A. Rajchman and An
Wang - magnetic core memory
Which would allow for recall of memory
after power loss
he development of transistor based
memory in the late 1960s

Types of Computer Memory

Internal or Primary or Main Memory

External or Secondary or Auxiliary or

Backing store Memory

Differences between Primary and

Secondary Memory
Primary Memory

Secondary Memory

Directly accessible by the

CPU
Built in part of computer

Not directly accessible by

the CPU
Outside the computer

Not a portable device

Portable device

In the form of IC

Usually not in the form of IC

Fast, costly

Slow cheap

Temporary in nature

Permanent in nature

Volatile memory

Non-volatile memory

Less storage capacity

Huge storage capacity

eg- RAM

eg- HDD,FD,CD

Types of Primary memory

Random Access Memory (RAM)

Read Only Memory (ROM)

Differences between RAM and ROM

RAM

ROM

Random access memory

Read and write memory
Temporary in nature
Volatile memory
Two types-Static RAM and
Dynamic RAM
SRAM- uses flip-flop, Fast,
Costly, Need refreshing,
data density low,
consumes more power
DRAM-uses capacitors,
slow, cheap, refreshing
circuit, data density high,
consumes less power

Read only memory

Cant write
Permanent in nature
Non-volatile memory
Three typesPROM
EPROM
EEPROM

Types of semiconductor memory

Volatile memory
Non volatile memory

Difference between Volatile and

Non-Volatile Memory
Volatile Memory

Non-Volatile
Memory

Requires power to
maintain the stored
information
eg- RAM

Can retain the stored

information even when not
powered
eg- ROM

Management of memory
vital for a computer system to operate
properly
Modern operating systems have complex
systems to properly manage memory
Failure to do so can lead to bugs, slow
performance, and at worst case,
takeover by viruses and malicious
software

Limitations
Since primary memory is a volatile memory
we cant store any data in it for a future
references
We can store large data in secondary
memory for future reference but if it get
crashed or damaged then all data will be lost
Since secondary memory is portable there is
probability of stolen or lost
Primary memory is expensive as compared
to secondary memory

THE END