Computer Memory

In some of our earlier article, we have discussed the Invention of Computer and some basics components of the computer. If you have missed those, I will highly recommend you to check those. Click here to land on our computer page. In this article, we are going to discuss the memory of Computers. You might have already seen lots of questions asked in past in different type of competitive exams like SSC, IBPS, RRB, etc. 

Computer memory is almost similar to our memory. For example, when we are calculating some maths problem in our head we keep some of the data information in our memory and use those during the calculation. Similarly, Computer also needs data to be stored in some kind of memory which the CPU can access during the calculation.

On a very high level, computer memory can be divided into two types.

1. Volatile Memory.
2. Non-Volatile Memory.

Volatile Memory is that kind of memory which can store data only while having a power supply. Once the power supply is off, the memory will be cleaned up. CPU Cache memory and RAM (Random Access Memory) are a volatile memory.

• Cache Memory: Cache Memory is some small memory which exists inside the CPU, this memory is some semiconductor memory lies inside CPU and very fast. CPU uses this memory to store temporary and repetitive data needed for the calculation. Operating system transferred data or information from Secondary memory to cache memory, so that CPU can access data or information required easily and fast.
• Advantage:
• Cache memory is faster than other computer memory
• CPU required a very short time to transfer data from cache memory.
• Disadvantage:
• Cache memory is very expensive.
• Cache memory is very small in size and volatile.
• Primary Memory: Random Access Memory (RAM) and Read-Only Memory (ROM) are considered as primary memory of Computers. These are also the volatile type of memory and gets cleaned up upon power off. Generally, a computer can have RAM sizes varies from 128MB to 16 GB. A computer can not runs without RAM. These are semiconductor memories and slower than the Cache memory.
• Advantage:
• These are generally cheaper than Cache memory.
• These are semiconductor memory.
• It is the working memory of the computer.
• Disadvantage:
• These are a volatile memory.
• Expensive than Secondary memory.

Non-Volatile Memory is that kind of memory which exists even without power supply. These type of memory ate generally magnetic or optical memory. Data can be stored permanently in this memory.

• Secondary Memory: This memory is where data and instruction get stored permanently. Secondary memory is used by the Operating system to transferred stored data into Primary memory like RAM/ROM to be used by the CPU. This memory is slower than the primary memory but non-volatile. Secondary memory is also cheaper compared to RAM or Cache memory. This memory is based on magnetic or optical memory. For example, Hard Disk Drive(HDD), CD-ROM, USB drive, etc.
• Advantage:
• These are Cheaper than the other two memory.
• Non-volatile
• bigger in Size.
• Disadvantage:
• Slower than the other two memory.

Hope you find this article helpful!

If you have any question regarding this topic then please leave your query in the comment section below.