Memory:

The term "memory" applies to any electronic component capable of

temporarily storing data. A memory is just like a human brain. It is used to
store data and instructions. Computer memory is the storage space in
computer where data is to be processed and instructions required for
processing are stored. This the major advantage of digital computers over
analogue computers to easily store large data and information for short
and long time period. This memory capability is what makes digital
computer so versatile and adaptable to many situations.
There are two main categories of memories:

Internal memory that temporarily memorises data while programs

are running. Internal memory uses micro conductors, i.e. fast
specialized electronic circuits. Internal memory corresponds to what
we call random access memory (RAM). It is also called Main memory
or Primary Memory.

Auxiliary
memory (also
called physical
memory or external
memory) that stores information over the long term, including after
the computer is turned off. Auxiliary memory corresponds to
magnetic storage devices such as the hard drive, optical storage
devices such as CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs, as well as read-only
memories and Magnetic Tapes.

Define the following terms:

I.
II.
III.

Memory Cell
Memory Word
Operations
Byte
and Cycle time

IV.

Memory Address
V.
Read and Write

VI.

Memory Access time

IV.
I.
Memory Cell:
V. The memory is divided into large number of small parts called cells.
This is device or electrical circuit used to store a single bit. (0 or 1).
VI.
VII.
VIII.IX. X.
1 0
XI.XII.
XIII.
XIV.
0
XV.
XVI.
XVII.
XVIII.
0
XIX.XX.
XXI.
XXII.
1

XXIII.
XXIV.
II.
Memory Word:

XXV.

This is a group of bits (cells) in a memory that represents

information or data of some type. Word size in modern computers
typically ranges from 4 to 64 bits.

XXVI.
XXVII.
XXVIII.
XXIX.
XXX.
III.
Byte
XXXI.
This is a special term used for an 8-bit word. In modern digital
computers the word size is usually a multiple of 8-bits such as 2
bytes, 4 bytes, 16 bytes, 32 bytes, 64 bytes, and so on.
XXXII.
IV.
Memory Address

XXXIII.

A typical computer has millions of memory cells, and every

memory cell has a name. Memory cells are named using a

unique number. The unique number that names a

memory cell is called its `address.' Each cell/word stored
in memory has a unique name.
XXXIV.

XXXVI.

XXXVIII.

XL.

XLII.

XLIV.

XLVI.
XLVIII.

L.

A XXXV.
d
d
r
e
s
s
0 XXXVII.
0
0
0 XXXIX.
0
1
0
XLI.
1
0
0
XLIII.
1
1
1
XLV.
0
0
XLVII.

n XLIX.
n
n

Da
ta/
inf
or
ma
tio
n
Wo
rd
0
Wo
rd
1
Wo
rd
2
Wo
rd
3
Wo
rd
4

Wo
rd
n

LI.
V.

LVI.
LVII.

Whenever we refer to a specific word/cell location in memory, we

use its address code to identify it.
Read & Write Operation:
LII.
Read Operation:
LIII.
This is the operation whereby the binary word/cell in a
specific memory location is accessed and then transferred to
another location. Read operation is also called Fetch
Operation. For example if we want to use word 2 in above
table, we have to call address 010.
LIV.
Write Operation:
LV.
This the operation whereby a new word/cell is placed
into a particular memory location. It is also called Store
Operation. Whenever a new word/cell is written into a
memory location, it replaces the word/cell that was previously
stored there. The old word/cell is lost permanently.

Access time and Cycle time.

LVIII.
Cycle Time:
LIX.This is a measure of a memory device speed. It is the amount
of time required for the memory to perform a read or write
operation and then return to its original state ready for the
next operation. Cycle time is normally longer than access
time.
LX. Access Time:
LXI.It is another measure of a memory device speed. It is the
amount of time of time required to perform a read operation.
More specifically, it is the time between the memory receiving
a read command signal and the data become available at the
memory output.

LXII.

Q.
Differentiate/distinguish
following:

between

the

I.
Random Access Memory & Sequential Access Memory
II.
Static Memory devices and dynamic memory devices
LXIII.
I.
Random Access Memory & Sequential Access Memory
LXIV.
Random Access Memory:
LXV.
Random Access memory devices allow stored data to be
accessed in any order. Random refers to the idea that any
piece of data can be returned in a constant time, regardless of its
physical location. In other words the access time is the same for
any address in memory. Its examples are: RAM, Hard disk.
LXVI.
LXVII.
Sequential Access Memory:
LXVIII.
It is the type of memory in which the access time is not
constant but varies depending on the address location.
Sequential memory is read in sequence. A particular stored piece
of data/word/cell is found by going thourgh all address locations
until the desired address is reached. Hence Access time in
sequential memory is much longer as compared to Random
Access memory.
LXIX.
Example of Sequential Access memory is Magnetic tape.