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    Memory Element

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    Mohd Zahiruddin Zainon
    This document discusses computer memory organization and hierarchy. It explains that main memory communicates directly with the CPU, while auxiliary memory like disks and tapes provide backup storage. Memory is organized in a hierarchy, with registers closest to the CPU being fastest but smallest, and disks and tapes farthest being largest but slowest. The document describes common memory technologies like SRAM, DRAM, and ROM at different levels of the hierarchy.

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    Memory Element

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    Mohd Zahiruddin Zainon
    29 views7 pages
    This document discusses computer memory organization and hierarchy. It explains that main memory communicates directly with the CPU, while auxiliary memory like disks and tapes provide backup storage. Memory is organized in a hierarchy, with registers closest to the CPU being fastest but smallest, and disks and tapes farthest being largest but slowest. The document describes common memory technologies like SRAM, DRAM, and ROM at different levels of the hierarchy.

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    This document discusses computer memory organization and hierarchy. It explains that main memory communicates directly with the CPU, while auxiliary memory like disks and tapes provide backup storage. Memory is organized in a hierarchy, with registers closest to the CPU being fastest but smallest, and disks and tapes farthest being largest but slowest. The document describes common memory technologies like SRAM, DRAM, and ROM at different levels of the hierarchy.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    29 views7 pages

    Memory Element

    Uploaded by

    Mohd Zahiruddin Zainon
    This document discusses computer memory organization and hierarchy. It explains that main memory communicates directly with the CPU, while auxiliary memory like disks and tapes provide backup storage. Memory is organized in a hierarchy, with registers closest to the CPU being fastest but smallest, and disks and tapes farthest being largest but slowest. The document describes common memory technologies like SRAM, DRAM, and ROM at different levels of the hierarchy.

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    of 7

    9/10/2012

    1
    EC303
    Computer Architecture & Organization
    Chapter 5
    Memory Element
    [email protected]
    Memory Organization
    Thememoryunit isanessential component indigital computer
    sinceit isneededfor storingprogramanddata.
    Averysmall computer withalimitedapplicationmaybeableto
    fulfill its intended task without the need of additional storage
    capacity.
    Most general-purposecomputerswouldrunmoreefficiently if
    theywereequippedwithadditional storagebeyondthecapacity
    of themainmemory.
    There is just not enough space in one memory unit to
    accommodate all the programs used in a typical computer.
    Moreover , most computer users accumulate and continue to
    accumulatelargeamountsof data-processingsoftware.
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    9/10/2012
    2
    Not all accumulated information is needed by the processor at the
    sametime. Therefore, it ismoreeconomical touselow-cost storage
    devices to serveas abackup for storingtheinformation that is not
    currentlyusedbytheCPU.
    Thememoryunit that communicatesdirectlywiththeCPU iscalled
    mainmemory. Devicethat providebackupstoragearecalledauxiliary
    memory.
    The most common auxiliary memory devices used in computer
    systemsaremagneticdiskandtapes. Thereareusedfor storingsystem
    programs, large data files, and other backup information. Only
    programsanddatacurrentlyneededbytheprocessor resideinmain
    memory.[1]
    All other informationisstoredinauxiliarymemoryandtransferredto
    mainmemorywhenneeded
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    Memory in aconventional digital computer is organized in a
    hierarchy as below figure[2].
    Figure1
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    9/10/2012
    3
    At the top of the hierarchy are registers that are matched in
    speedtotheCPU, but tendtobelargeandconsumeasignificant
    amount of power. Therearenormally only asmall number of
    register inaprocessor ontheorder of afewhundredor less.
    At thebottomof thehierarchy arethesecondary and off-line
    storagememoriessuchashardmagneticdiskandmagnetictapes,
    inwhich thecost per storedbit issmall intermsof moneyand
    electrical power, but theaccesstimeisverylongwhencompared
    withregisters.
    Between the registers and secondary storage areanumber of
    other formsof memorythat bridgethegapbetweenthetwo.
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    As we move up through the hierarchy, greater performance is
    realized, at greater cost.
    Expensive memory tends to be closer to the CPU, which shorten
    communication times. Table 1 show the properties of memory
    hierarchy.
    Memory type Access time Typical
    amount used
    Typical cost
    Registers 0.5ns 2KB -
    Cache 5-20ns 2MB $160
    Main memory 40-80ns 512MB $205
    Disk memory 5ms 40GB $200
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    4
    Memory and Storage Hierarchy
    [3]
    Figure2
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    Figure 2 show the differentiation between the memory and
    storage hierarchy .
    Memory hold a running programs and information that the
    processor is currently using. For memory, its small, fast and
    expensive.
    Storage preserves dataand programfor future use. The
    storage is slow, inexpensive and large capacity.
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    5
    Random Access Memory
    Anymemorylocationcanbeaccessesinthesameamount of time, regardlessof
    itspositioninthememory.
    Thetwo mainformsof modernRAMarestatic RAM(SRAM) anddynamic
    RAM(DRAM). InstaticRAM, abit of dataisstoredusingthestateof aflip-
    flop. Thisformof RAMismoreexpensivetoproduce, but isgenerallyfaster
    andrequireslesspower thanDRAMand, inmoderncomputers, isoftenusedas
    cachememoryfor theCPU.
    DRAMstoresabit of datausingatransistor andcapacitor pair, whichtogether
    compriseamemory cell. Thecapacitor holdsahighor lowcharge(1or 0,
    respectively), andthetransistor actsasaswitchthat letsthecontrol circuitryon
    the chip read the capacitor's state of charge or change it. As this formof
    memoryislessexpensiveto producethanstaticRAM, it isthepredominant
    formof computer memoryusedinmoderncomputers [email protected]
    SRAM
    Figure 3 shows the functional behavior of SRAM cell that
    stores asingle bit. The figure represents the memory element
    as D flip flop, with additional control to allow the cell to
    selected, read, and written. There is a(bidirectional) data
    line for datainput and output.
    SRAMs are fast but are relatively large and consume alot of
    power. They are typically used for memory applications that
    are small but fast.
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    6
    DRAM
    DRAM employ acapacitor that stores aminute amount of electric charge, in
    whichthechargelevel represent a1or a0.
    Alogical 1canbestoredinthecapacitor byplacinga1onbothSelect andRead
    lines. Capacitor aremuchsmaller thanflipflops, andsocapacitor basedDRAM
    canholdmuchmoreinformationinthesameareathanasSRAM.
    Sincethechargesonthecapacitorsdissipatewithtime, thechargeinthecapacitor
    storagecellsinDRAMsmust berestored, or refreshed, frequentlywithspecial
    circuitry.
    DRAMaresmaller andslower thanSRAMs, andaretypicallyusedfor themain
    memorybecausetheysupport lowcost, lowpower andhighdensity.
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    ROM
    Read-Only Memory
    ROM is used for storing programs that are permanently
    resident in the computer and for tables of constants that do
    not change in value once the production of the computer is
    completed.
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    9/10/2012
    7
    Memory Chip Organization
    How RAM cell are organized into chips?
    The figure show simplified RAM chip pinout.Scan252 wiley.
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    References
    [1] Computer SystemArchitecture, Third Edition; M.Morris
    Mano; Prentice Hall International,Inc
    [2] Computer Architecture And Organization,AnIntegrated
    Approach; Miles J. Murdocca, Vincent P. Heuring; John
    Wiley & Sons Inc
    [3] searching for memory device hierarchy ;
    http:/ / www.computerhistory.org/ revolution/ memory-
    storage/ 8/ 249/ 2227
    [email protected]

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