Processor & Memory

Basic Processor & Memory Architecture of a

Computer System

ROM PROM Flash

Main Memory (RAM)

Cache
Memory

Accumulato
Decode r register
r I/
Program General- O
control register purpose register
General- D
Instruction
register purpose E
register V
Memory I
address register C
Memory buffer E
register S

Input/Output
register
General- General-purpose
purpose register register

Control Unit Arithmetic Logic Unit

Central Processing Unit
 Computer memory

 "Computer memory is any

physical device capable of
storing information temporarily
or permanently."
MEMORY

•Electronic components that store instructions, data, and results.

•Consists of one or more chips on motherboard or other circuit
board.
•Each byte stored in unique location called an address, similar to
seats in a concert hall
Memory Capacity

 Memory capacity of a computer is equal to the number of bytes that

can be stored in its primary storage

 Its units are:

 Kilobytes (KB) : 1024 (210) bytes

 Megabytes (MB) : 1,048,576 (220) bytes

 Gigabytes (GB) : 1,073,741824 (230) bytes

Classification of Memory

Memory

Internal Processor Main (Primary) Secondary

Memory Memory Memory
INTERNAL PROCESSOR MEMORY

•A small high-speed memory inside the processor.

•Temporary storage of instruction and data.

•Example: Registers, built-in cache.

Registers

 Special memory units, called registers, are used to

hold information on a temporary basis as the
instructions are interpreted and executed by the CPU
 Registers are part of the CPU (not main memory) of a
computer
 The length of a register, sometimes called its word
size, equals the number of bits it can store
 With all other parameters being the same, a CPU with
32-bit registers can process data twice larger than
one with 16-bit registers
Functions of Commonly Used Registers
MAIN MEMORY

•It is relatively large memory placed outside the processor.

•Data and instruction storage for the operation of the processor.

•Can be accessed directly and rapidly by the CPU.

•Example: RAM, ROM.

RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY

•A temporary storage that can be read from or written into by the user.
•Volatile memory.
•Every location can be accessed independently.
•Access time for every location is constant and independent of its
position.
•Two types of RAM:
Dynamic RAM
Static RAM
DYNAMIC RAM

 DRAM stands for Dynamic RAM.

 Relatively slower and low-cost memory.

 Used for main memory.

 Contents are constantly refreshed 1000 times per second.

 Access time 50 – 100 nanoseconds.

 Build from Transistors and capacitors

STATIC RAM

 SRAM stands for static RAM.

 Characterized by high speed and high cost.

 Access time 1 – 10 nanoseconds.

 Can accept one command and transfer one word of data per clock cycle.

 Build from flip-flops

 Dynamic RAM (DRAM) vs Static RAM (SRAM)

Feature Dynamic RAM (DRAM) Static RAM (SRAM)

Storage Type Uses capacitors Uses flip-flops (transistors)

Needs constant refreshing to keep No need for refreshing as long as

Data Refreshing
data power is on

Speed Slower Faster

Cost Cheaper More expensive

Density Higher (more memory in less space) Lower (takes up more space per bit)

Lower (per bit, but more overall due

Power Consumption Higher (per bit)
to refresh)

Main memory (RAM in

Used In Cache memory (inside CPU)
computers/laptops)

Complexity Simpler circuit design More complex circuit design

READ ONLY MEMORY (ROM)

•A class of storage used in computers and other electronic devices.

•Data stored in it cannot be modified.
•Non-volatile memory.
•In modern PCs, ROM is used to store the basic bootstrapping firmware for
the main processor, as well as the various firmware needed to internally
control self-contained devices.
TYPES
•MROM

•PROM

•EPROM
ROM
•EEPROM

•EAROM

•Flash ROM
SECONDARY MEMORY

•Much larger in capacity but slower than main memory.

•Permanent storage of data and instruction.

•Example: Hard disk, CD, Floppy, etc.

SECONDARY MEMORY TYPES

 1. Magnetic Tape
 2. Magnetic Disk
 3. Optical Disk
 4. Flash Memory
Magnetic Tape

• Developed in Germany in 1928.

• It use a read-write mechanism.
• Data read and write speed is slower.
• It become more scarce due to the advanced storage devices.
 Magnetic Disk

•A flat disc covered with a magnetic coating to write, rewrite and access data.

•Two types of magnetic disks are hard disks and floppy disks.
Hard Disk

•It is also called a hard drive.

•It stores the operating system, applications, documents, files, pictures and music.

•They are less expensive and they can store terabytes of information.

•It comes in both variants, internal as well as external.

Floppy Disk

•A floppy disk is a square plastic case.

•These disks are available in sizes like 8 inches, 5.25 inches, and 3.5 inches.

•Due to the other portable storage devices, they are less in use nowadays.
Optical Disk

•It is an electronic storage medium because it uses low-power laser

beams to record and read data.

•The data is read while bouncing the laser beam on the surface of the disk.

•CD, DVD, Blu-ray all are called optical disks.

Flash Memory

•It was invented in the 1980s by Japanese engineer Masuoka Fujio.

•He said that the process of memory-erasing was like a camera's flash. So he

suggested naming this new technology "flash memory".

•They are workers of Toshiba Corporation.

•Pen Drive, SD Card

MEMORY HIERARCHY

•In computer architecture, the memory hierarchy is a concept used to

discuss performance issues in computer architectural design, algorithm
predictions, and lower-level programming constructs.

•Involving locality of reference. The memory hierarchy in computer storage

separates each of its levels based on response time.
MEMORY HIERARCHY
Cache Memory

 System performance suffers when the processor waits for data from a
slow memory device.

 Cache memory is introduced between the CPU and the main memory.
 Cache is a high-speed memory for holding recently accessed data in
main memory.
 The amount of cache memory has a tremendous impact on the
computer's speed.
TWO TYPES OF CACHE MEMORY

•Level-1 L1 cache: CPU resident cache

•Level-2 L2 cache: Motherboard resident cache

MAIN
CPU CACHE
MEMORY
 THE OPERATION OF CACHE MEMORY

1. Cache fetches 2. CPU checks to

data from next to see whether the next
current addresses instruction it
in main memory. requires is in cache.
Main Cache
CPU
Memory Memory

4. If not, the CPU has to 3. If it is, then the

fetch the next instruction instruction is fetched
from main memory - a from the cache - a
much slower process. very fast position.

= Bus connections
 AT A GLANCE
Computer Memory

Internal Memory Primary Memory Secondary Memory

Register RAM ROM

1. Magnetic Tape
 Static  PROM 2. Magnetic Disk
RAM  EPROM 3. Optical Disk
 Dynami  EEPROM 4. Flash Memory
c RAM  EAROM
CONCLUSION

Memory is an important part of a computer. Without

memory, probably a computer is of no use in a
greater sense.