Mother of Mercy Academy: Name
Mother of Mercy Academy: Name
Subject Description: This module covers the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values needed to perform computer operations
which include inputting, accessing, producing, and transferring data using the appropriate hardware and software.
Discussion:
Memory refers to the electronic components of the computer that stores data and instructions either temporarily or permanently.
Any storage device on PC including the hard disk, floppy disk, ROM, RAM, and cache are all considered as memory. Memory is
part of the computer that handles data and instructions before and after they are transferred to the processor for analysis and
execution.
Volatility – The most common form of RAM is called Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM). It is volatile memory which
needs a continuous power source to store and hold data. When the power source is interrupted, DRAM is unable to recover
any data or instructions that was stored in it. The contents of DRAM change whenever a key on the keyboard is pressed or
when the mouse cursor is moved. A system crash can wipe out the entire contents of the DRAM. It must be constantly
1
refreshed every 15 minutes in order to retain its content. Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) is a non-volatile memory
Page
which is able to store contents with little or no power supplied to it at all. SRAM does not need to refresh periodically and is
faster that DRAM thus making it more capable of keeping pace with modern CPUs. Data can be accessed in SRAM at a
speed of 0.45 ns or less and suitable for processors running 2.2 GHz of faster.
Synchronization — Data is transferred across the memory bus by the memory controller either without being synchronized
to the system clock or completely in time to the system clock's signals. Asynchronous DRAM which transfers data without
synchronizing to the system clock is best used on systems with memory bus speeds lower than 66 MHZ. Synchronous
DRAM (SDRAM) synchronizes data movement to the system clock and is suited to higher speed memory buses.
Speed - The speed of a memory type is expressed as its access speed, which is the lowest possible time required for the
memory to complete a read or write operation to memory. RAM is measured in bytes.
Here are the most commonly used measurement units for RAM:
Memory Technologies
Several different RAM technologies and types are used in PCs. The most common technologies are the following:
1. Asynchronous DRAM (DRAM)
DRAM is the common type of RAM used in desktop and laptop PCs. DRAM is cheap and stores a large number of bits on a
single small chip. Each DRAM storage cell contains a capacitor which holds one bit of data. The capacitor holds either a
positive or negative voltage value to indicate a 1 or 0 binary value. It is the slowest type of memory with a clock time of 50
ns or higher.
2. Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM)
SDRAM is the type of RAM used in newer desktop and portable PCs. SDRAM is dynamic and must be refreshed. It is the
fastest form of RAM.
3. Static RAM (SRAM)
SRAM is used primarily for PC cache memory and in PC cards. The main differences between DRAM and SRAM are that
the latter is more expensive and requires more board space. SRAM is primarily used for Level 1 and 2 caching usually as
an onboard caching built into the CPU or motherboard.
4. Video RAM (VRAM)
VRAM is used exclusively for video and color graphics support. It is a memory built into the video adapter to give better and
faster graphics support. VRAM needs dual-porting where data written to VRAM by the system CPU is simultaneous to the
data read from RAM by the video controller to refresh the display image.
a. Video RAM (VRAM) — This VRAM is DRAM that has been dual-ported and needs to be refreshed less often than
normal DRAM. It acts as a buffer between the processor and the video display.
b. Window RAM (WRAM) — This is also a dual-ported video memory type but it can be accessed in blocks and is
faster than VRAM. WRAM is a high-performance video RAM type that is about 25 percent more efficient than
VRAM.
c. Synchronous Graphics RAM (SGRAM) —A single-ported, clock synchronized video RAM that is four times faster
than DRAM memories. It uses specialized instructions to handle data more efficiently.
Memory Module
A memory chip or module should be matched to the bus capacity of the motherboard over which data travels from the memory
to the CPU or peripheral devices. The bus capacity is measured in bits and shows how much data can be transferred in one
2
clock cycle. The memory circuits on a motherboard are arranged to cope up with the width of the data bus and to efficiently
Page
transfer data.
Dual Inline Packaging (DIP)
DRAM chips were first mounted on the motherboard as single memory chips in a
bank of chips or as part of an integrated memory module that was mounted on an
expansion slot. Most of the motherboards that use DIP contain one or more memory
banks. A memory bank is an arrangement of memory that provides an equal number
of bits to match the capacity of the data bus width.
Memory Banks
Memory chips are arranged in banks on motherboards and memory cards. When installing memory to the system, it is
necessary to know the memory bank and layout position on the motherboards and memory cards. The banks typically
correspond to the capacity of the data bus of the system's CPU.
Processor Data Memory Bank 30 – Pin SIMMs 72-Pin SIMMs DIMMs per
Bus Width per Bank per Bank Bank
8088 8-bit 8 bits 1 N/A N/A
8066 16-bit 16 bits 2 N/A N/A
286 16-bit 16 bits 2 N/A N/A
386SX, SL, SLC 16-bit 16 bits 2 N/A N/A
486SLC, SLC2 16-bit 16 bits 2 N/A N/A
386DX 32-bit 32 bits 4 1 N/A
486SX, DX, DX2, DX4, 5x86 32-bit 32 bits 4 1 N/A
x86 and x86-64 running single
64-bit 64 bits N/A N/A 1
channel mode
x86 and x86-64 running dual-channel
64-bit 128 bits N/A N/A 2
mode
X86 and x86-64 running tri-channel
64-bit 192 bits N/A N/A 3
mode
Memory Standards
Industry-standard specifications for chips and modules were developed to keep memory
affordable and interchangeable. The Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA), an association
that represents at fields of electronic industry, appointed the Joint Electron Device
Engineering Council (JEDEC) as the semiconductor engineering standardization body.
JEDEC produces most industry-standard memory chip and module designs. Examples of JEDEC memory standards are FPM,
SDRAM, DDR, DDR2, and DDR3 SDRAM.
3
Page
____________________________
Parent’s Signature
Memory Types
DDR2 SDRAM/
240-pin DDR2 200-pin SODIMM 1.8v 1066MTps 8533MBps DDR2 SDRAM 17066MBps N/A
2005-2008
Legend:
DIMM – Dual Inline Memory Module MTps – Million Transfers per second MBps – Million Bytes per second
SODIMM – Small Outline DIMM SIMM – Single Inline Memory Module
4
Page
Fast Page Mode DRAM (FPM)
Fast Page Mode DRAM uses a technique called paging. Instead of changing both row and column
addresses, FPM maintains the row address and only changes the column address to make access to
the data being processed faster. FPM applies a simple scheme that divides memory into pages thus it
is able to access data on the same memory page faster than data on other memory pages. FPM
memory has a 30-pin or 72-pin SIMM form and is used by 386, 486 and Pentium systems from 1987
through 1995.
Extended Data Out DRAM (EDO DRAM)
EDO DRAM also referred to as Hyper Page mode, is a modified form of FPM and became
available for Pentium systems in 1995. EDO memory is composed of special chips that permit
a timing overlap between successive accesses. EDO improved cycle times by allowing the
memory controller to start a new column address instruction while data is read at the current
location. Systems with CPU speed of up to 66 MHz use EDO RAM.
Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM)
JEDEC set the SDRAM as the standard for a type of DRAM that operates synchronously with
the memory bus. SDRAM moves information at a very high-speed clocked interface. Single
data rate (SDR) SDRAM supports system bus cycling with a speed of up to 133 MHz and
was used primarily by most PCs from 1998 through 2002. Single data rate (SDR) SDRAM
typically has 168pin DIMMs running at different speeds.
DDR2 SDRAM
DDR2 is a faster version of DDR memory. It achieves higher throughput by using different pairs of
signal wires to transfer data faster without noise and disruption problems. DDR2 DIMMs have 240
pins and a speed ranging from 400MHz to 1600MHz. DDR2 uses lower voltage than DDR thus
reducing power consumption and heat generation. It was the most popular type of memory in PCs
from 2005 through 2008.
DDR3 SDRAM
DDR3 is the latest JEDEC memory standard. It consumes lesser power and has higher levels of performance than DDR2.
DDR3 modules implement advanced data transfer techniques, self-driver correction and data coordination. DDR3, like DDR2
comes in 240-pin DIMM module but customizable with different keying thus making the two modules incompatible. DDR3
modules have a speed of 800 MHz and higher. It is the popular type of memory in PCs since 2008.
Activity 1:
Draw the Computer Memory Hierarchy
2. What makes DDR2 popular in the year 2005 to 2008 than DDR?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Activity 4. Fill in the blanks. Complete the information missing from the table.
Fast Page Extended Data Double Data
Single Rate
Memory Type Mode (FPM) Out (EDO) Rate (DDR) DDR2 SDRAM DDR3 SDRAM
(SDR) SDRAM
DRAM DRAM SDRAM
Years Popular
Desktop
Module Type
Maximum
Clock Speed
Maximum
Throughput
Single-Channel
Maximum
Throughput
Dual-Channel
Maximum
Throughput
Triple-Channel
7
Page
____________________________
Parent’s Signature