New

syllabus
Chapter 2 2023-24
Computer Memory

Informatics Practices
Class XI ( As per CBSE Board)

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 Computer Memory
A Computer Memory - is just like a human brain,is used to
store data and instructions. Computer memory is the
storage space in the computer, where data is to be
processed and instructions required for processing are
stored.A collection of cells, each with a unique physical
address.Most computers are byte-addressable.Cell at
address 11111110 contains 10101010.

E.g. for memory size-> if the computer has 64k words,

then this memory unit has 64 * 1024 = 65536 memory
locations. The address of these locations varies from 0 to
65535.
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 Computer Memory

Memory Units – How much memory is required for a

file/data/progam etc. is measured by memory units. Following
are the memory units.

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 Computer Memory
Memory is primarily of three types −
• Cache Memory
• Primary Memory/Main Memory
• Secondary Memory
Cache Memory - Cache memory is a very high speed semiconductor
memory which can speed up the CPU. It acts as a buffer between
the CPU and the main memory. It is used to hold those parts of data
and program which are most frequently used by the CPU.

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 Computer Memory

Types of memory
The advantages of cache memory are as follows −
• Cache memory is faster than main memory.
• It consumes less access time as compared to main
memory.
• It stores the program that can be executed within a short
period of time.
• It stores data for temporary use.

The disadvantages of cache memory are as follows −

• Cache memory has limited capacity.
• It is very expensive.

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 Computer Memory
Types of memory
Primary Memory (Main Memory) - Primary memory holds only those
data & instructions on which the computer is currently working. It
has a limited capacity and data is lost when power is switched off. It
is generally made up of semiconductor device. These memories are
not as fast as registers. The data and instruction required to be
processed resides in the main memory.
It is divided into two subcategories RAM and ROM.

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 Computer Memory
Types of memory
Primary Memory (Main Memory) – Difference between RAM & ROM

COMPARISON RAM ROM

Basic It is a read-write memory. It is read only memory.
Use store data to be currently required for booting of
processed computer
Volatility It is a volatile memory. It is a nonvolatile memory.
Stands for Random Access Memory. Read Only Memory.
Modification Data in RAM can be modified. Data in ROM can’t be modified.
Capacity RAM sizes from 64 MB to 8GB. smaller than RAM.

Cost RAM is a costlier memory. cheaper than RAM.

Type Types of RAM are static RAM and Types of ROM are PROM,
dynamic RAM. EPROM, EEPROM.

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 Computer Memory
Types of memory
Primary Memory (Main Memory) – Types of RAM
BASIS FOR COMPARISON SRAM(STATIC RAM) DRAM(DYNAMIC RAM)

Speed Faster Slower

Size Small Large
Cost Expensive Cheap
Used in Cache memory Main memory
Density Less dense Highly dense
Construction Complex and uses transistors Simple and uses capacitors and
and latches. very few transistors.
Single block requires 6 transistors Only one transistor.
Charge leakage property Not present Present hence require power
refresh circuitry
Power consumption Low High

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 Computer Memory
Types of memory
Primary Memory (Main Memory) – Types of ROM
MROM (Masked ROM)-The very first ROMs were hard-wired devices that contained a pre-
programmed set of data or instructions & are known as masked ROMs & are
inexpensive.
PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory)-PROM is read-only .The user buys a
blank PROM and enters the desired contents using a PROM program. Inside the
PROM chip, there are small fuses which are burnt open during programming. It can
be programmed only once and is not erasable.
EPROM (Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory)-EPROM can be erased
by exposing it to ultra-violet light for a duration of up to 40 minutes. Usually, an
EPROM eraser achieves this function. During programming, an electrical charge is
trapped in an insulated gate region. The charge is retained for more than 10 years
because the charge has no leakage path.
EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory)-EEPROM is
programmed and erased electrically. It can be erased and reprogrammed about
ten thousand times. Both erasing and programming take about 4 to 10 ms
(millisecond). In EEPROM, any location can be selectively erased and programmed.

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 Computer Memory
Types of memory
Secondary Memory
This type of memory is also known as external memory or non-
volatile. These are slower than the main memory. These are used for
storing data/information permanently. CPU directly does not access
these memories, instead they are accessed via input-output
routines. For example Tape, disk, CD-ROM, DVD,pen drive etc.
Magnetic Tape
mass auxiliary storage device

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 Computer Memory
Secondary Storage Devices
Hard disk
Fixed Head HDD / Movable head HDD

A hard disk is a set of stacked disks. Each disk has data recorded
electromagnetically in concentric circles, or tracks, on the disk
Hard Drive Types
1. Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment (PATA)
2. Serial ATA (SATA)
3. Small Computer System Interface (SCSI)
4. Solid State Drives (SSD)
Upto 12 TB sized HDD is available in the market
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 Computer Memory
Secondary Storage Devices
A Compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM)- is a storage device that
can be read but not written to. The surface of a CD is made of a
polycarbonate layer with molded spiral tracks on the top. The data
are stored on the CD as a series of minute grooves which are known
as 'pits' encoded on these spiral tracks. The areas between the 'pits'
are known as 'lands'. A CD burner is used to write (burn) the data on a
CD.A sensor reads data through light(laser) reflection.

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 Computer Memory
Secondary Storage Devices
DVD - Short for digital versatile disc or digital video disc, a
DVD or DVD-ROM is a disc capable of storing a significant
amount more data than a standard compact disc. DVD-ROM
drives that utilize these discs were first sold in 1997.Works
similar to cd but store data densely due to it’s faster speed.
DVDs have differing capacities.
• One of the most common DVDs is the single-sided, single-layer disc,
capable of holding 4.7 GB.
• The single-sided, double-layer disc is capable of holding between
8.5-8.7 GB.
• The double-sided, single-layer disc is capable of holding 9.4 GB.
• Although rare, the double-sided, double-layer disc is capable of
holding up to 17.08 GB.

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 Computer Memory
Secondary Storage Devices
Pen drive - is small storage device shaped like a pen with
built-in data storage that connects to a computer by a USB
port. It is based on old EEPROMS technology that allows
writing and erasure processes. When a pen drive is
connected to a USB port, it activates. Otherwise, it lies
dormant. Pen drives are used to store data. These flash
drives vary in storage capacity (64 MB to 128 GB) and are
removable and rewritable.

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 Computer Memory
How data are deleted from
RAM – Data once stored in ram are not removed but are
replaced with new one or become inaccessible ,due to their
label(address) are detached from current program.
ROM – Deletion depends on rom type.(Read previous slide)
Magnetic tape - If the tape technology uses magnetic servo
tracks, they also will be destroyed and the tape will be
rendered useless. Note, however, that degaussing has to be
performed properly. The tapes need to be exposed to a
strong enough magnetic field for the correct amount of
time to completely destroy the data

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 Computer Memory
How data are deleted from
Hard disk – When we format a hard drive or delete a
partition, we are only deleting the file system, making the
data invisible, or no longer actively indexed, but not gone.
CDRW/DVDRW – Through crystal rearrangement.
Pen drive/flash memory - The electrons in the cells of a
flash-memory chip can be returned to normal ("1") by the
application of an electric field, a higher-voltage charge.
Flash memory uses in-circuit wiring to apply the electric
field either to the entire chip or to predetermined sections
known as blocks. This erases the targeted area of the chip,
which can then be rewritten.

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 Computer Memory
How data are recovered from
RAM –
1. We can't (in practice). RAM needs to be constantly
refreshed to keep "remembering", when the computer is
turned off the charge leaks out after a minute or so.
2. Freeze the chip, pop it into another computer, and run
the linux command dd to copy the raw data to disk.
After we have the raw data, copy it to a new partition using
dd again and run an undelete program on the partition.
Undelete should pull out any files that fall under a
recognizable format (ex pictures, etc...). The rest could be
further processed but not easily unless we know what
you're looking for.
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 Computer Memory
How data are recovered from
ROM – It depends on the type of ROM being used.
Magnetic tape - The procedure for recovering data from magnetic
tapes is very specialised and there are few organisations capable of
successfully achieving this(through their specilised tool) and it
depends on the condition of tape also.

Hard disk – If hdd circuit is damaged then it will be replaced and data
will be recovered,this procedure is easy but if data loss from disk track
then it become harder to recover.if files are removed due to
command given mistakenly or formatted mistakenly and no data then
after over written then these can be recovered from recua like
software or we can approach hdd repair & recovery company for the
same ,they work in specialized environment ,specialist open hdd and
recover data bitwise that is too much harder process.

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 Computer Memory

How data are recovered from

Pen drive – When the data are loss due to file system corruption or
accidently deleted and not over written,then data recovery
software can be used to recover the loss data. These software
works at hardware level and read each memory cell for recovery.

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 Computer Memory

Security issue
RAM– RAM is used to store sensitive non-persistent information in a
lot of cases. Encryption keys would be a common example.Sometimes
it is possible to remove RAM and place it into another device to dump
the contents.
ROM - Customs Roms are open-source and they have all chance to
steal data. But the developers stick to Their ethics and refrain from
such practices. Also security teams watch what kind of additions are
made to the source codes.
Hard disk -Once our computer becomes infected with malware, a
cybercriminal can hijack our computer and do almost anything they
wish. A lot of malware these days is programmed to seek out valuable
or sensitive data and send it back to the criminals.

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