DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

ANDHRA PRADESH
Name : U.Rajya Lakshmi
Designation : Lecturer
Branch : Computer Engg.,
Institute : Govt.Polytechnic for Women,
PALAMANER.
Year/Semester : III Semester
Subject : Computer Architecture
Subject Code : CM-303
Topic : Memory Organization
Duration : 50 Min
Sub Topic : Memory Hierarchy system
Teaching aids : PPT s , diagrams
CM303.40 1
 Do you Know

• What is alterability of memory?

• What are the two types of access modes of memory?

CM303.40 2
 Recap of previous lesson

Memory characteristics
• Access time
• Access rate
• Alterability
• Access method
• Cycle time
• Permanence of storage

CM303.40 3
 Objectives

On completion of this period you would be able to

know
• the memory hierarchy of a computer system
• Need for hierarchy

CM303.40 4
 Introduction
Contd..
• Goal of memory system
• to provide adequate storage capacity with
acceptable performance and cost
• low cost and short access time are
desirable characteristics
• Unfortunately..
• high speed memories are expensive while
low cost memories are slow

CM303.40 5
 Introduction
• Goal can be achieved
by employing various types of memories

• Different types of devices have different

performance and cost
• Some memories have large storage capacity
• Some devices store only a single byte
• Some memories operate at high speed
• Some are slow

CM303.40 6
 Memory Hierarchy system
Contd..

• Every computer contains several types of

devices to store the instructions and data

• Different memories employed in a computer

system form memory hierarchy

• Memory hierarchy of a computer system is

shown in Fig.1

CM303.40 7
 Registers in
CPU

Increase in Level 1 Cache Memory Increase in

capacity and cost per bit
access time Level 2 Main Memory

Level 3 Magnetic Disks

Level 4 Magnetic Tapes

capacity
CM303.40 8
Fig.1
 Memory Hierarchy Contd..
• Consists of a four level memory hierarchy

• CPU has its own local memory in the form of

registers

• Smallest and fastest cache memory is at level 1

• Faster main memory is at level 2

• Fast magnetic disks are at level 3

• slow magnetic tapes are at level 4,the bottom of

hierarchy
CM303.40 9
 Memory Hierarchy

• As one goes down the hierarchy, the following

occur
• Increase in capacity

• Decrease in cost per bit

• Increase in access time

• Decrease in frequency of access

CM303.40 10
 Need for Memory Hierarchy
Contd..

• Main reasons economics and performance

• Expensive to maintain all programs and data in
main memory
• Using hierarchical system
– Programs currently used by CPU can be loaded in main
memory and processed fast
– Programs not currently needed by the CPU can be
stored in slow secondary memory
– Programs most frequently needed by the CPU can be
stored in fastest cache memory and processed more
faster
CM303.40 11
 Need for Memory Hierarchy

• In this way the programs and data are distributed

to various levels in memory hierarchy according
to the frequency of usage

• Thus the goal of the memory hierarchy can be

achieved

CM303.40 12
 Summary

In this class you have studied

• The goal of memory system
– to provide adequate storage capacity with low cost
and high performance
• Different memory components employed in the
computer system form memory hierarchy
• The need for memory hierarchy
– main reasons are economics and performance

CM303.40 13
QUIZ

CM303.40 14
1. Desirable characteristics of memory system

a) Low cost and low capacity

b) High cost and short access time
c) Short access time and low capacity
d) Low cost and short access time

CM303.40 15
1. Desirable characteristics of memory system

• Low cost and low capacity

• High cost and short access time
• Short access time and low capacity
• Low cost and short access time

CM303.40 16
 Essay type Questions

2. Explain the principle of memory hierarchy

and state its need

CM303.40 17