Memory Terminology

Memory refers to the physical devices used to store

Random
• Access time Serial Access access
• Data transfer rate
• Capacity
• Cost
Visualization of Computer Memory
Computer’s memory can be visualized as a contiguous block of rectangular holes

Look at the
Shelf Tom

Cell

Contents(Data or
Information) Block of
Memory
Magnetic Memory
One of the most widely used types of digital data storage is magnetic
memory/storage. This refers to any type of data storage using a
magnetized medium. Magnetic tapes and disks are examples of
magnetic memory devices.
Optical Memory
In optical-storage technology, a laser beam encodes digital data
onto an optical disk in the form of tiny pits and lands arranged in concentric
tracks on the disk’s surface.
Memory type based on retention power
Internal Processor Memory
• A small high speed memory inside the processor
• Directly accessible to the CPU
• Temporary storage of instruction and data
• Extremely fast
• Example: Cache and Register
Cache memory is small amount of high-speed
semiconductor memory which exists inside the
microprocessor or on the motherboard of the computer.
This memory stores some active portion of main memory.
It lies between the main memory and the processor. When
any information is required by the processor, first it will
look up in the cache memory, and if it is not available in
the cache then it will fetch it from the main memory.
Types of Computer memory
It is also called as read write memory or the main memory or
the primary memory.
The programs and data that the CPU requires during execution of a
program are stored in this memory.
It is a volatile memory as the data loses when the power is turned off.
Types of RAM
RAM is further classified into two types- SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) and DRAM
(Dynamic Random Access Memory).
 Stores crucial information essential to operate the system, like
the program essential to boot the computer.
 It is not volatile.
 Always retains its data.
 Used in embedded systems or where the programming needs
no change.
Types of ROM
Types of Read Only Memory (ROM) –

1.PROM (Programmable read-only memory) –PROM come from manufacturer un programmed.

2.EPROM (Erasable Programmable read only memory) – It can be reprogrammed. To erase

3.EEPROM (Electrically erasable programmable read only memory) – The data can be erased by
applying electric pulses, no need of ultra violet light.
Can be rapidly programmed and erased.
 Magnetic Storage devices
 Magnetic tape
 Magnetic disks(Floppy Disk ,Hard Disk, Portable hard disk)
 Optical disks(CD , DVD, Blu-ray Disk)
 Chip memory(USB ,Memory cards)
A magnetic disk is a flat disk coated with a magnetic material on which
data/information is stored in digital form.
Hard disk is the common type of magnetic disk in use today.
Some other types of magnetic disks were also used in the past like
Floppy disks and Zip disks. These disks are obsolete and not in use now
days. These disks have been replaced by optical disks and USB flash
drives which are more reliable and have more storage capacity.
The only magnetic disk used now days is the Hard disk.
Hard disk contains one or many platters (disks) coated
with magnetic material on both sides. The platters are
attached to a spindle holding them in parallel with equal
gap. All the platters rotate together at high speed. Bits
are stored on the magnetic surface in spots along
concentric circles called tracks. Hard disks contain
thousands of tracks. Track is divided into sections called
sectors. Each platter has two read/write heads for
writing data to and reading data from both surfaces of
the platter. Hard disks are manufactured in very clean
environment. They must be kept dust free. Dust particles
can create scratches on the surface of the platters and
damage the data stored in it. The storage capacity of
modern hard disks is in Tera bytes.
 Computer Memory
ch-2
Topics:
 Types of secondary storage devices
 Optical Disks and its types
 Flash memory/Chip memory
• Optical storage refers to recording data using light. Typically, that's
done using a drive that can contain a removable disk and a system
based on lasers that can read or write to the disk.
• Optical disks are inexpensive and lightweight.
•  They also have the advantage of being removable
• The following are types of optical disks.
CDs
DVDs
Blu-ray Disk
 CD DVD BD
(Compact Disk) (Digital video/versatile Disk) Blu-ray Disk
1982 1996 2006
(size 120 mm ) Same dimensions as CD
74 minutes of Digital Audio 2 hours of Standard Definition Video 2 hours of High Definition Video
750MB 4.7 to 16 GBs 25 to 50GBs

Data storage. Video games, Multimedia Data storage /HD video storage
applications,Movies
Flash memory
• Flash memory is a non-volatile memory chip used for storage and for
transferring data between a personal computer (PC) and digital
devices.
• Solid state
• Cheap ,Efficient ,Reliable, fast.
Memory cards are used with laptop
computers and other electronic
devices such as digital cameras,
mobile phones and video games.
They come in various sizes and
with different storage capacity.