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Memory Organization Computer Architecture Tutorial Studytonight

The document provides an overview of memory organization in computer architecture, detailing the classification of memory into volatile and non-volatile types. It explains the memory hierarchy, access methods, and the roles of main memory, auxiliary memory, and cache memory. Additionally, it discusses the hit ratio for cache memory performance and introduces associative memory as a fast lookup option.

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6 views

Memory Organization Computer Architecture Tutorial Studytonight

The document provides an overview of memory organization in computer architecture, detailing the classification of memory into volatile and non-volatile types. It explains the memory hierarchy, access methods, and the roles of main memory, auxiliary memory, and cache memory. Additionally, it discusses the hit ratio for cache memory performance and introduces associative memory as a fast lookup option.

Uploaded by

Adesh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Memory Organization | Computer Architecture

Tutorial

A memory unit is the collection of storage units or devices together. The memory unit stores the
binary information in the form of bits. Generally, memory/storage is classified into 2 categories:

Volatile Memory: This loses its data, when power is switched off.

Non-Volatile Memory: This is a permanent storage and does not lose any data when power is
switched off.

Memory Hierarchy

The total memory capacity of a computer can be visualized by hierarchy of components. The
memory hierarchy system consists of all storage devices contained in a computer system from the
slow Auxiliary Memory to fast Main Memory and to smaller Cache memory.

Auxillary memory access time is generally 1000 times that of the main memory, hence it is at
the bottom of the hierarchy.

The main memory occupies the central position because it is equipped to communicate directly
with the CPU and with auxiliary memory devices through Input/output processor (I/O).

When the program not residing in main memory is needed by the CPU, they are brought in from
auxiliary memory. Programs not currently needed in main memory are transferred into auxiliary
memory to provide space in main memory for other programs that are currently in use.

The cache memory is used to store program data which is currently being executed in the CPU.
Approximate access time ratio between cache memory and main memory is about 1 to 7~10

Memory Access Methods

Each memory type, is a collection of numerous memory locations. To access data from any
memory, first it must be located and then the data is read from the memory location. Following are
the methods to access information from memory locations:

Random Access: Main memories are random access memories, in which each memory location
has a unique address. Using this unique address any memory location can be reached in the same
amount of time in any order.

Sequential Access: This methods allows memory access in a sequence or in order.

Direct Access: In this mode, information is stored in tracks, with each track having a separate
read/write head.

Main Memory

The memory unit that communicates directly within the CPU, Auxillary memory and Cache
memory, is called main memory. It is the central storage unit of the computer system. It is a large
and fast memory used to store data during computer operations. Main memory is made up of
RAM and ROM, with RAM integrated circuit chips holing the major share.

RAM: Random Access Memory


DRAM: Dynamic RAM, is made of capacitors and transistors, and must be refreshed every 10~100
ms. It is slower and cheaper than SRAM.

SRAM: Static RAM, has a six transistor circuit in each cell and retains data, until powered off.

NVRAM: Non-Volatile RAM, retains its data, even when turned off. Example: Flash memory.

ROM: Read Only Memory, is non-volatile and is more like a permanent storage for information. It
also stores the bootstrap loader program, to load and start the operating system when computer
is turned on. PROM(Programmable ROM), EPROM(Erasable PROM) and
EEPROM(Electrically Erasable PROM) are some commonly used ROMs.

Auxiliary Memory

Devices that provide backup storage are called auxiliary memory. For example: Magnetic disks
and tapes are commonly used auxiliary devices. Other devices used as auxiliary memory are
magnetic drums, magnetic bubble memory and optical disks.

It is not directly accessible to the CPU, and is accessed using the Input/Output channels.

Cache Memory

The data or contents of the main memory that are used again and again by CPU, are stored in the
cache memory so that we can easily access that data in shorter time.

Whenever the CPU needs to access memory, it first checks the cache memory. If the data is not
found in cache memory then the CPU moves onto the main memory. It also transfers block of
recent data into the cache and keeps on deleting the old data in cache to accomodate the new one.

Hit Ratio

The performance of cache memory is measured in terms of a quantity called hit ratio. When the
CPU refers to memory and finds the word in cache it is said to produce a hit. If the word is not
found in cache, it is in main memory then it counts as a miss.

The ratio of the number of hits to the total CPU references to memory is called hit ratio.

Hit Ratio = Hit/(Hit + Miss)

Associative Memory

It is also known as content addressable memory (CAM). It is a memory chip in which each bit
position can be compared. In this the content is compared in each bit cell which allows very fast
table lookup. Since the entire chip can be compared, contents are randomly stored without
considering addressing scheme. These chips have less storage capacity than regular memory chips.

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