Chapter -4

Computer memory unit

W.C. Deshapriya 1
Learning Outcomes
After completing this lesson, student will be able to describe different
types of computer storage, and
• describe primary storage memory
• Cache memory
• Main memory
• Registers
• describe Secondary storage
• magnetic, optical and solid state storage devices

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How is data stored in memory?
• A computer memory is a storage facility that used to stored and
retrieved the data by an address.

• The memory consists of large

number of electronic switches Each
switch can have either two states.
i.e. ON and OFF

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Binary Digit
• The basic storage unit of memory is bit which stands for Binary Digit
• A bit is a binary digit 0 or 1

• Data and programs store in the

main memory that are measured by
using unit of bytes.

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Byte
• A byte is a group of 8 bits
• One character take one byte of memory Amount of data and
program size are also measured in bytes

• 1 Byte=8 bits
• 1 Kilo Bytes=1024 Bytes
• 1 Mega Bytes=1024 Kilo Bytes
• 1 Giga Bytes=1024 Mega Bytes
• 1 Tara Bytes=1024 Giga Bytes

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Memory Unit
• Memory Unit Most important part of the computer that is used to
store data and instructions.
• It divided to two part as follows:
• Primary storage memory
• Secondary storage memory

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Primary Storage
• Primary storage is directly connected to the CPU.
• There are 3 types of primary storage as follows:
• Main memory (RAM)
• Cache memory
• Processor registers

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Main memory (RAM) unit
• RAM stands for Random Access Memory.
• A RAM chip is an integrated circuit made of millions of Transistors and
Capacitors.
• RAM is volatile which means ‘temporary memory.’
• Data can’t be stored in RAM when the power is off. Data is lost if the
computer power looses.
• The program (instructions and data) must be transferred to RAM before
run the process.

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Type of main memory (RAM)
• There are various types of RAM:

• DRAM - Dynamic random-access memory is a type of memory that stores

each bit of data in a memory cell.

• SRAM - Static random-access memory is a type of memory that uses

latching circuitry to store each bit.

• VRAM - video RAM refers to any type of random access memory (RAM)
specifically used to store image data for a computer display.

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DRAM
• The DRAM stands for Dynamic Random Access Memory.
• DRAM is a type of random access memory (RAM) found in modern
desktop and laptop computers, including Windows PCs and Apple
Macintosh devices.

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DRAM
• Except data can be transferred on double speeds.
• For 100-133MHz buses, the effective memory speeds
appear to be 200-266MHz.
• DDR-RAM has lower power consumption, using 2.5V
instead of 3.3V like SDRAM.
• This makes it good for notebooks and other mobile
devices.

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Type of DRAM
• SDRAM - Synchronous DRAM
Synchronous dynamic random access memory- operate by
using external pin interface called as externally supplied clock
signal.
• DDR SDRAM -Double Data Rate synchronous dynamic random
access memory.
allows for higher transfer rates and faster performance.
• DDR2, DDR3, and DDR4
• ECC DRAM- Error correction code memory (ECC memory) is a type of
computer data storage that uses an error correction code (ECC) to detect and
correct Error.

https://www.crucial.com/articles/about-memory/difference-among-
ddr2-ddr3-ddr4-and-ddr5-memory
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DRAM vs SRAM

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Type of RAM according to the structure
Four main types exist according to structure:
• SIMM - Single in-line memory module is a memory containing one or
several chips on a small circuit board with pins that connect to the
computer motherboard.

• DIMM - Dual in-line memory module is a type of memory that is natively

64 bits, enabling fast data transfer.

• SODIMM - Small Outline dual In-line memory module is a memory with a

smaller outline and thickness than standard DIMM modules.

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Activity 01
• Find ram information of your PC or Laptop.

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Cache memory
• Cache memory is a special type of primary memory used by many
CPUs.
• Very fast and reliable memory.
• Cache Memory is a Static RAM and helps speed up to the
microprocessor.
• SRAM chips: more expensive than DRAM

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Cache memory
• Cache memory is an extremely fast memory type that acts as a buffer
between RAM and the CPU.
• It holds frequently requested data and instructions so that they are
immediately available to the CPU when needed.
• Cache memory is used to reduce the average time to access data from
the Main memory.

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Type of Cache memory
Personal Computers have 2 or 3 types of cache memories
• L1 (Level 1) Cache (8KB to 128KB)
• L2 (Level 2) Cache (64KB to 4MB) - Maximum transfer rate is approximately
264 megabytes per second.
• L3 (Level 3) Cache is cache separate from the microprocessor chip and is
on the motherboard.

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Activity 02
• Find the cache memory information of your PC or Laptop.

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Activity 02
• Find the cache memory information of your PC or Laptop.

1. Right-click on Start button and click on Command Prompt (Admin) option.

2. On the Command Prompt screen, type wmic cpu get L2CacheSize,
L3CacheSize and press the Enter key on the keyboard of your computer.

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Virtual Memory
• Virtual memory is a storage area that holds the files on your hard
drive for retrieval when a computer runs out of RAM.
• The data is in the RAM but currently not used, Virtual memory help to
transferred those data to the hard disk.

• When the data on the hard disk is

needed again, any other unused
data is transferred to the hard disk
before the original data is
transferred back to RAM.
• RAM to Virtual Memory ratio should
have a 2:1
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Memory architecture
• All data and instructions are loaded to primary memory before the
process the program.
• The digital computer architecture is design based on buses (signal
path) for instruction and data.

Two architectures are as follows:

• There is a storage and single bus line is used for both of instruction
and data transmit.
Or
• There are separate storage and separate buses are used for
instruction and data transmit.

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Memory architecture
According to the memory accessible method, the CPU has two
architectures:
• Von Neumann architecture
• Harvard architecture

Von Neumann architecture Harvard architecture 23

Von Neumann architecture
• In the Von Neumann machine has a single memory for all instruction
and data.
• It has a single bus line (signal path) for both of instruction and data.

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Harvard architecture
• In the Harvard architecture machine has physically separated
memory for instruction and data.
• It has a separate storage and separate bus line (signal path) for
instruction and data.

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Registers
• Registers are fast and stand-alone storage locations inside the CPU
that hold data temporarily.
• Register are used to quickly accept, store, and transfer data and
instructions that are being used immediately by the CPU.
• Computer “Loads” data from RAM to registers, performs operations
on data in registers, and “stores” results from registers back to RAM

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General Purpose Registers

• The General Purpose registers are used to store data during

program execution.
• These are numbered as R0, R1, R2….Rn-1,
• Used to store data temporally during program executing.

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 Special Purpose Registers
This registers are used to store status of a program in Computer
system.
These registers are designated for a special purpose only.

• Most conman Special Purpose Registers:

• PC - Program Counter
• IP - Instruction Pointer
• IR - Instruction Register

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Registers Address & size
Register size - the number of bits they can hold,
for example, an 8-bit register or a 32-bit register.
• Addresses start from 0 up 2k.
• where k is the number of address lines.

• 1 bit words= 1bytes (8 bits)

• 1024 bit words = 1024 bytes
• 1kilobyte needs 10 address lines
• M = 220 needs 20 address lines.
• G = 230 needs 30 address lines.

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Secondary storage devices
• It is a kind of a computer memory that is not directly accessible the CPU.
• Secondary memory is External memory and it has higher storage capacity.

• There are two main categories of storage:

• Magnetic storage - Floppy disk, Hard disk, Magnetic tape
• Optical storage – CD, DVD

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Magnetic storage
• Magnetic devices are coated with a magnetically sensitive material.
• It uses magnetic charges to represent 1 and 0.

• Magnetic storage devices are as follows:

Floppy disk, Hard disk, Magnetic tape

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Optical storage device
• In optical storage, a laser beam are used to read data on plastic or
metallic disk.
• The 1 and 0 are represented by flat areas called lands, and pits

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Optical storage device
• Types of CDs are as follows:
• CD-ROM - Compact Disc Read Only Memory
• CD-R - Compact Disc Recordable
• CD-RW - Compact Disc Re Writable
• Types of DVDs are as follows:
• DVD-ROM - Digital Versatile Disc Read Only Memory
• DVR-R - DVD Recordable
• DVD-RAM - DVD Random Access Memory
• DVD-RW - DVD Re Writable

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Solid state storage devices
• It has integrated circuits (IC) to store the data.
• Stores data electronically. Therefore, reads and writes are fast.

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Activity 03
• Compare and construct HDD and SSD

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Read Only Memory
• Read Only Memory- Contains the instructions that are permanently
stored by the manufacturer.
• ROM contains the Basic Input / Output System (BIOS) which is a set
of instructions that are automatically activated when the computer is
turned on.
• Computer uses the instruction of ROM at the time of booting for the
following purpose:
• To check different units of computer system
• To load the operating system into the computer memory

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Types of Read Only Memory ROM
Types of Read Only Memory as follows:
• ROM - Read Only Memory
The user can’t write instructions on Rom
• PROM - Programmable Read Only Memory
The user can write instructions on only once
• EPROM -Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory
The user can write instructions on EPROM many times
• EEPROM – Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory
The user can write and Erase instructions on EEPROM many
times

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Thanks!

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