DATA STORAGE
• All computers require some form of memory and storage.
• Memory is usually referred to as the internal devices used to store data that the computer can
access directly. This is also known as primary memory.
• This memory can be the user’s workspace, temporary data or data that is key to running the
computer.
• Storage devices allow users to store applications, data and files.
• The user’s data is stored permanently and they can change it or read it as they wish.
• Storage needs to be larger than internal memory since the user may wish to store large files
(such as music files or videos). Storage devices can also be removable to allow data, for
example, to be transferred between computers.
• Removable devices allow a user to store important data in a different location in case of data
loss.
• Memory and storage devices can be split up into two distinct groups:
» primary memory
» secondary storage.
Primary memory
- Primary memory is the part of the computer memory which can be accessed directly from the CPU; this
includes random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM) memory chips.
- Primary memory allows the CPU to access applications and services temporarily stored in memory
locations.
The structure of primary memory is shown
Random access memory (RAM)
• All computer systems come with some form of RAM. These memory devices are not really random; this refers to
the fact that any memory location in RAM can be accessed independent of which memory location was last
used.
• When you run an application or program, data is retrieved from secondary storage and placed temporarily into
RAM.
• Access time to locate data is much faster in RAM than in secondary or off-line devices.
• Features of RAM include:
» can be written to or read from, and the data can be changed by the user or the computer (i.e. it is a temporary
memory)
» used to store data, files, part of an application or part of the operating system currently in use
» it is volatile/temporary, which means memory contents are lost when powering off the computer.
• In general, the larger the size of RAM the faster the computer will operate.
• In reality, RAM never runs out of memory; it continues to operate but just becomes slower and slower as more
data is stored. As RAM becomes ‘full’, the CPU has to continually access the secondary data storage devices to
overwrite old data on RAM with new data.
• By increasing the RAM size, the number of times this has to be done is considerably reduced; thus making the
computer operate more quickly.
• There are currently two types of RAM technology:
» dynamic RAM (DRAM)
» static RAM (SRAM).
Static RAM (SRAM)
• A major difference between SRAM and DRAM is that SRAM doesn’t need to be constantly refreshed.
• It makes use of flip flops, which hold each bit of memory.
• SRAM is much faster than DRAM when it comes to data access
• DRAM is the most common type of RAM used in computers, but where absolute speed is essential, for
example, in the CPU’s memory cache, SRAM is the preferred technology.
• Memory cache is a high-speed portion of the memory; it is effective because most programs access the
same data or instructions many times.
• By keeping as much of this information as possible in SRAM, the computer avoids having to access the
slower DRAM.
Read-only memory (ROM)
• The main difference between RAM and ROM is that ROM cannot be changed or written to.
ROM chips have the following features:
• they are non-volatile (the contents are not lost after powering off the computer)
• they are permanent memories (the contents cannot be changed or written to by the user, the computer
or any application/program)
• the contents can only be read
• they are often used to store data that the computer needs to access when powering up for the first time
(the basic input/output system (BIOS)); these are known as the start-up instructions (or bootstrap)
Example of an application
• We will now consider an application, other than a computer, where both RAM and ROM chips are used:
A remote-controlled toy car has circuitry which contains both RAM and ROM chips. The remote control is a
hand-held device. Explain the function of the RAM and ROM chip in this application.
• We will consider the function of each type of memory independently:
ROM
» storing the factory settings such as remote control frequencies
» storing the ‘start-up’ routines when the toy car is first switched on
» storing of the set routines; for example, how the buttons on the hand-held device control turning left,
acceleration, stopping, and so on.
RAM
» the user may wish to program in their own routines; these new instructions would be stored in the RAM chip
» the RAM chip will store the data/instructions received from the remote control unit.
