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 developed in 1946

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
Directly accessible by the CPU Built in part of computer Not a portable device In the form of IC Fast, costly Temporary in nature Volatile memory Less storage capacity eg- RAM

Secondary Memory
Not directly accessible by the CPU Outside the computer Portable device Usually not in the form of IC Slow cheap Permanent in nature Non-volatile memory Huge storage capacity eg- HDD,FD,CD

Types of Primary memory

Random Access Memory (RAM)

Read Only Memory (ROM)

Differences between RAM and ROM

RAM
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

ROM
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
Requires power to maintain the stored information eg- RAM

Non-Volatile Memory
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

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