Memory Unit

Back to: COMPUTER SCIENCE SS2

 

Welcome to Class !!

We are eager to have you join us !!

In today’s Computer Science class, We will be learning about The Memory Unit. We hope you enjoy the class!

 

 

 

Memory Unit

The memory unit is the part of the computer that holds data and instructions for processing. Although it is closely associated with the CPU. In actual fact, it is separate from it. Memory unit associated with CPU is also called Primary Storage, primary memory, main storage, internal storage and main memory. When we load software from a floppy disk, hard disk or CD-ROM, it is stored in the main memory.

 

There are two types of primary memory (RAM) and (ROM).

 

RAM

Ram stands for Random Access Memory. This is the main storage and is the place where the programs and software we load gets stored.

• This is really the main store and is the place where the programs and software we load gets stored. When the Central Processing Unit runs a program, it fetches the program instructions from the RAM and carries them out.
• If the Central Processing Unit needs to store the results of calculations it can store them in RAM.
• Random Access Memory can have instructions READ from it by the CPU and also it can have numbers or other computer data WRITTEN to it by the CPU.
• The more RAM in your computer, the larger the programs you can run.
• When we switch a computer off, whatever is stored in the RAM gets erased.

 

 

ROM

ROM stands for Read-Only Memory. The CPU can read instructions from read-only memory. ROM comes with instructions permanently stored inside and these instructions cannot be overwritten by the computer CPU. ROM is used for storing special sets of instruction which the computer needs when startup. When we switch the computer off, the content of the ROM does not become erased but remain stored permanently. Therefore, it can’t be deleted.

The CPU can only fetch or read instructions from Read Only Memory (or ROM). ROM comes with instructions permanently stored inside and these instructions cannot be overwritten by the computer’s CPU.

ROM memory is used for storing special sets of instructions which the computer needs when it starts up.

When we switch the computer off, the contents of the ROM does not become erased but remains stored permanently. Therefore it is non-volatile

 

Types of memory

• Primary memory (main memory)
• Secondary memory (auxiliary memory)

 

Types of secondary memory

1. 1. 1. Internal memory
      2. External memory

 

Types of storage devices

1. 1. 1. Floppy disk
      2. Hard disk
      3. Flash drive
      4. Computer disk (CD)
      5. Digital video disk (DVD)

 

 

 

We have come to the end of this class. We do hope you enjoyed the class?

Should you have any further question, feel free to ask in the comment section below and trust us to respond as soon as possible.

In our next class, we will be learning about Logic Gates. We are very much eager to meet you there.