COMPUTER MEMORY

The system memory is the place where the computer holds current programs and data that are in use. Computer memory, device that is used to store data or programs (sequences of instructions) on a temporary or permanent basis of use in an electronic digital computer. Computer memory is divided into Main (or Primary) Memory and Auxiliary (or secondary memory). Main memory holds instruction and data when a program is executing, while auxiliary memory holds data and programs not currently in use and provides long-term storage. Main Memory- It refers to the actual chips capable of holding data when a program is executing. It is a semiConductor memory. There are several different types of main memory: Volatile Memory, non Volatile memory, Cache Memory, Flash Memory and Virtual Memory. Volatile Memory Volatile Memory is memory that loses its contents when the computer or hardware device loses power. Types of Volatile Memory RAM (Random Access Memory) - Random Access Memory is the same as main memory. When used by it, the term Ram refers to read and write memory; that is, you can both write data into RAMM and read data from RAM. This is in contrast to ROM, which permits you only to read data. Most RAM is volatile, which means that it requires a steady flow of electricity to maintain this data was in RAM is lost. Types of RAM: SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) - Static RAM consists of flip-flops, a bitable circuit composed of four to six transistors. Once a flip-flop stores a bit, it keeps that value until the opposite value is stored in it. SRAM gives fast access to data, but is physically relatively large. It is used primarily for small amounts of memory called requester in a computers central processing unit (CPU) and for fast cache memory. DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) - DRAM stores each bit in an electrical capacitor rather than in a flip-flop, using transistor as a switch to charge or discharge the capacitor. Because it has fewer electrical components, a SRAM storage cell is smaller than SRAM -SRAM (Shadow Random Access Memory) - during the booting up of a computer, a minimal set of instruction to start the computer and video are stored in ROM, known as BIOS (basic input output system). Since ROM normally executes slowly, Shadow RAM allows ROM normally executes slowly, shadow RAM allows for the transfer of selected segments of the BIOS code from ROM to RAM memory (Which is faster). Non-Volatile Memory Non-volatile memory, sometimes abbreviated as NVRAM, is memory that keeps its contents even is the power is lost. Types of Non-Volatile Memory: ROM (Read-only Memory) - Computers almost always contain a small amount of read-only memory that holds instructions for starting up the computer. Unlike RAM, ROM cannot be written to. PROM (Programmable Read-only Memory) A PROM is a memory chip on which you can store a program. But once the PROM has been used, you cannot wipe it clean and use it to store something else. Like ROMs, PROMs are non-volatile. EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-only Memory) - An EEPROM is a special type of PROM that can be erased by exposing it to ultraviolet light. EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) - An EEPROM is a special type of PROM that can be erased by exposing it to an electrical Charge. Cache Memory Cache is a kind of RAM which a computer system can access more responsively than it can in regular RAM. The central processing unit looks up in the cache memory storage area to determine the information it requires This rules out the need for the system to search for information in larger and bigger memory storage areas. Which in turn leads to a faster extraction of data? Flash Memory This is a non-volatile kind of memory which is intended to contribute to portable storage and a convenient transfer of data from one computer to another. The data in Flash Memory can be erased and re-programmed as per the users requirements. It only has specific number of erase and write cycles that it can withstand, after which it creates a tendency to lose out on the stored information. Memory cards and USB flash drives are some modes of this types of memory storage. In the case of power being lost, data is retained in memory. Advantages of flash memory include low voltage, durability and high speed; for this reason, flash memory is used in printer, pagers, digital cameras, audio recorders and cell phones.

Virtual memory When many programs are running on the computer simultaneously, the virtual memory allows the computer to search in RAM for memory portions which havent been utilized lately and copy them onto the hard drive. This action frees up RAM space and enables the system to load diriment programs. Auxiliary Memory Auxiliary memory units are among computer peripheral equipment. They trade slower access rates for greater storage capacity and data stability. Auxiliary memory holds programs and data for future use, and , because it is nonvolatile (like ROM), it is used to store inactive programs and to archive data. Early forms of auxiliary storage included punched paper tape, punched cards, and magnetic drums. Since the 1980s, the most common forms of auxiliary storage have been: magnetic Disks, Magnetic Tape, and Optical Discs. Magnetic Disk Drives Magnetic disks are coated with a magnetic material such as iron oxide. These are of two types: Hard Disk A magnetic disk on which you can store computer data. Hard disks hold more data and are festering than floppy disks. A hard disk, for examples, can store anywhere from 10 to more than 100 gigabytes, whereas most floppies have a maximum storage capacity of 1.4 megabytes. A single hard disk usually consists of several platters. Each platter requires two read/write heads, one for each side. All the read/write heads are attached to a single access arm so that they cannot move independently. Each platter has the same number of tracks, and a track location that cuts across all platters is called a cylinder. Floppy Disk A soft Magnetic Disk. It is called floppy because it flops if you wave it. Unlike most hard disks, floppy disk (open called Floppies or diskettes) are portable, because you can remove them from a disk drive. Disk drives fro floppy disks are called floppy drives. Floppy disks are slower to access than hard disks and have less storage capacity, but they are much less expensive. And most importantly, they portable. Magnetic Tape Magnetic Tape, similar to tape use in tape recorders, has also been used for auxiliary storage, primarily for archiving data. Tape is cheap, but access time is far slower than that of a magnetic disk because it is sequential-access memory i.e data must be sequentially read and written as a tape is unwound, rather then retrieved directly from the desired point on the tape. Servers may also use large collections of tapes or optical discs, with robotic devise to select and load them rather like old-fashioned jukeboxes. Optical Discs An optical disc is an electronic data storage, medium that can be written to and read using low-powered laser beam. A laser read the dots, and the date was converted to an electrical signal, and finally to audio or video output. Phillips and Sony came out with the compact disc (CD) in 1982. Since then, there has been a constant succession of optical disc formats, first CS formats, followed by a number of DVD format. Optical disc offers a number of advantages of magnetic storage media. An optical disc holds. More data. The greater control and focus possible with laser beams (incomparson to tiny magnetic heads) means that more data can be written into a smaller space. Storage capacity increase with each new generation of optical media. Emerging standards, such as Blue-ray, offer up to 27 gigabytes (GB) on a single-sided 12-centimeter disc. In comparison, a diskette, for example, san holds 1.22 megabytes (MB) type of Optical Discs: CD Compact Disc, is the first and most common type of optical disc. From a collaborated effort between Philips and Sony in the 80s came a sound replacement for vinyl records. So when we talk about CDs, the first thing that comes to mind is music. CD-ROM the CD-ROM came out in 1984, under the specification described in the Yellow Book (CDs had the Red Book) ROM stands for Read-only Memory. CD-ROMs became even more usefully because they were no longer limited to storing audio data but also computer software, encyclopedias, and even games, later on, the Green Book was released to signal that CD-ROMs could now support graphics and mix audio, video, and data all at the same time. CD-Recordable, which were originally called CD write-once (WO) are just like CD-ROMs in the they can be written to only once. But instead of aluminum coating, CD-Rs use either silver, silvery alloy, or gold coating. The are also cheaper to make. CD-Raw - If CD-Rs and CD-ROMs can only be written to number of times. They are only a bit more expensive than CD-Rs and are catching up quickly. The make the a CD rewritable, it has a special alloy that can switch between two states (sustainer and amorphous) to record the data in. The laser that writes the data also switches between different power levels to write and read data. DVD DVD - stand for Digital Video Disk or Digital Versatile Disc. Unlike ordinary CDs. Which can only hold around 700 megabytes of data; DVDs can store a whopping 4.7 gigabytes of data, This is achieved by (a) storing data onto smaller pit; (b) packing pits and holes on the surface of the disc closer together, and (c) using laser with a shorter wavelength.

There are even more types of DVDs our there: aside from the single-layer 4.7 GB discs, we have single-sided dual-layer (8.6GB) double sided single-Layer (9.4GB) and double-sided usual-layer (17GB) DVDs. Aside form storage, DVDs also have other types according to purpose or format. HD-DVD stands for high density digital disc. Single-sided HD-DVDs can store 15 GB while Dual-sided HD-DVDs have 30 GB. Thierss also a triple-side HD-DVD, Which holds 45 GB. It can read and transfer data at a speed of 36 Mbps. Blue Ray- Blue-ray discs are named after the color of the laser with a 450 nanometer cave length. Single-sided discs can hold 25 GB while dual-sided ones storage 50 GB. Its transfer rate is 54 Mbps. While HD-DVD, Blue-ray discs are more expensive to make. Pen Dive a USB flash drive is a data storage device that consists of flash memory with an integrated Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface. USB flash drives are typically removable and rewritable, and physically much smaller than a floppy disk. USB Flash drives are often used for the same purposes for which floppy disks or CD-ROMs were used. They are smaller; faster have thousands of times more capacity, and more durable and reliable because they have no moving parts.