The Computer Revolution/Hardware/Memory
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[edit] Reserved Group 6
4 types of Memory
[edit] 1.RAM
So what is RAM Memory?
Basically Ram, or random access memory, temporarily stores both software instruction and data. It is stored both before and after it is processed by the CPU. It is basically your computers short term memory.
RAM, is only temporarily memory, as it requires electicity to maintain the information stored in it. Hence, once the power is off the information is gone. Because of this, RAM is also been dubbed the Volatile storage area.
Ram is measured in megabytes. Most computers today provide at least 256MB of RAM memory... of course this can be increased. The easiest wasy to tell if you overloading your RAM memory is to open several applications at the same time and run each. The response rate ( quickness) on how the applications respond from your inputs, will give you and idea of the amount of information your RAM can handle at any one time.... The more programs or applications running the slower the response.. Reason for this is that once the RAM becomes overloaded, the software will then start running applications off your hard drive which of course slows the overall performance of the computer.
There are 4 types of RAM Memory:
- DRAM - Dynamic RAM
- SDRAM - Synchronous Dynamic Ram
- SRAM - Static Ram
- DDR-SDRAM - Double date rate synchronous dynamic ram
By Kris Lobsinger
[edit] 2.ROM
ROM meaning Read-Only Memory is memory whose contents can be accessed and read but can't be changed. It is mainly used in computers but it is also used in other electronic devices. Since it can't really be written to, it's main use is the distribution of Firmware. ROM is in the shape of a "computer chip". It can only be read with the exception of being written on once during the step called "programming". ROM's also can be erased and re-programmed many times. There are many different types of ROM including PROM's(Programmable Read-Only Memory). ROM is measured in Megabytes.
[edit] 3.CMOS
Also known as a RTC/NVRAM or CMOS RAM, CMOS is short for Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor. CMOS is an on-board semiconductor chip powered by a CMOS battery inside IBM compatible computers that stores information such as the system time and system settings for your computer. A CMOS is similar to the Apple Macintosh computer's PRAM.
[edit] 4.Flash
Flash memory- is a form of non-volatile computer memory that can be electrically erased and reprogrammed.
Flash memory is available in 3 forms: 1. Flash memory card (aka RAM cards)- Removable srorage media that is indersted into a flash memory port. It retains data when the power is turned off. 2. Flash memory sticks- Flash memory that plugs into a memory stick port which is very convenient to transport and use. 3. Flash Memory drives- finger sized module of flash memory that plugs into the USB portsof nearly any PC or Mac.
