Name: ___________________ Section: _____ Date: __________

CHAPTER - 3 Memory and Processors

Memory:

Memory can be accessed faster than secondary storage. Memory is used to store
instructions so that the processor can fetch the instructions quickly in order to process
them.

There are three types of memory that you need to know about:

▪ Random Access Memory (RAM)

▪ Read Only Memory(ROM)

▪ Flash memory

Random Access Memory:

Software is loaded into RAM from a computer’s secondary storage. The processor then
fetches software instructions from memory and executes them.

software

instruction
Storage Memory
Processor
00000001111111

Processors fetch software instructions from memory. The processor then decodes and
executes the instructions.

RAM is a volatile, meaning that it cannot store data when it has no power. This means
that, if you turn off your computer’s power, any data held in RAM will be lost.

Impact of the size of RAM on the user:

• RAM is used to store programs that are in use.

• The more RAM that is available, the more programs can run at the same time.

• This is important when you need to use many files or programs at the same time.

• When the computer system does not have enough space in RAM, the operating
systems creates virtual memory by using an area of secondary storage.
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 • Secondary storage is much slower than RAM, so the user will notice a big
decrease in system performance when the processor has to access instructions
from virtual memory.

• When a solid-state drive (SSD) is used as secondary storage, data is swapped to

and from SSD quickly and frequently. Although SSDs have faster access times
than hard disk drives, this constant swapping can greatly reduce the performance
of the SSD.

• When programs or files are closed, they are removed from RAM. As space in
RAM becomes available, active programs are moved into RAM from virtual
memory, and this will improve the performance of those programs.

• A user can add more RAM to a system, but only up to the maximum supported
by the computer and operating system.

• Adding more RAM can improve the performance of a computer system when the
user is using multiple files or programs at the same time.

• It can also be useful to increase the amount of RAM when programs are
updated, as the updates often include more complex features that requires the
use of more memory.

A user can increase the amount of RAM using RAM slots on a motherboard

Read Only Memory (ROM):

• ROM stores data permanently.

• Unlike RAM, ROM is non-volatile, meaning that data is not lost when the
power is turned off, ROM is used in computer systems that store only one
program (single purpose computers), such as calculators, digital watches and
washing machines.

• General purpose computers, such as home PCs and laptops, also use ROM to
boot the system and load the operating system from secondary storage.

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 • ROM is generally used to refer to memory that cannot be changed after
manufacture. Its full name is Mask Programmed Read Only Memory.

• PROM stands for Programmable Read Only Memory. It is manufactured with

the ability to be written to, but it can only be written to once.

Although the computer system cannot swap instructions in and out of ROM, it is
possible to change the contents of some types of ROM so that the data on it can be
updated. These types of ROM are called:

EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory)

EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory)

• The contents of EPROM and EEPROM can be erased and then rewritten to.

• Data stored in EPROM can be erased by exposing it to strong ultraviolet (UV)

light.

• Data stored in EEPROM is erased by applying a voltage to one of the pins on

the ROM chip. This means that you do not have to remove the ROM chip to
erase the contents of EEPROM.

EEPROM later developed into flash memory.

The process of erasing and rewriting the contents of EPROM or EEPROM is used when
updating the firmware for a device.

Comparing the characteristics of RAM and ROM:

RAM ROM (all types)

Stores data when power No(volatile) Yes (non-volatile)

off?

Can swap instructions Yes No

in and out?

Accessible in any Yes Yes

order?

Intended to store… Temporary memory Permanent memory

Can be upgraded? Yes No

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Flash memory:

Flash memory is a type of EEPROM, like other types of ROM, it is non-volatile. It does
not have any moving parts, so it has a fast access time and low power consumption.
Because of its low power consumption, flash memory is used in the SSDs that are used
in portable devices, such as laptop computers, as these devices often rely on internal
batteries for their power. Flash memory is often used as removable storage in USB
drives and SD cards.

• Identify the types of memory used in Pen drive.

Flash memory, EPROM, EEPROM

• How a flash memory device stores data.

Data is stored as electrical charges (1) in cells (1) that are flooded with electrons
(1) to represent binary data (1 or 0). (1).

• Drawbacks of using a USB pen drive to store data

o Easy to lose
o Can easily transfer/pick up viruses (1)
o Corrupt if incorrectly
disconnected (1)

Do not accept – storage size

Processors:

A processor is made up of one or more Central Processing Units (CPUs). These carry
out software instructions. In processors that are made up of more than one CPU, each
CPU is referred to as a core. For example, in a quad-core processor, four cores are
working during each processor cycle. This means that it can do up to four times as
much work as a single-core processor.

Processor speed is measured in clock cycles per second. This is the number of times
per second the processor can carry out one or more instructions. Clock cycles are
measured in units called hertz (Hz), kilohertz (kHz), megahertz (MHz) and
gigahertz (GHz).

Although clock cycles measure processing speed, there are other factors that affect
how much work a processor can do in a given time. A user should also consider the
amount of work that a CPU can do in each clock cycle. Different processors can carry
out more instructions per core in each cycle.

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Measuring clock cycles

Name Abbreviation Clock cycles

per second

Hertz Hz 1

Kilohertz kHz 1000

Megahertz MHz 1000,000

Gigahertz GHz 1000,000,000

Example : The number of instructions that can be executed every second by 2.2
GHz processor.

2.2 * 1000,000
2,2 00,000,000 (instructions)

o Describe the function of a CPU.

To fetch/decode/execute (1) data/instructions (1) Execute – runs /carries out

Instruction – command /program Do not accept processes for Mp1 Files for data

o The speed of the processor is measured by number of cycles/ instructions carried

out (1) per second (1)

Subject Vocabulary:

Boot start up
Firmware a type of software that controls a hardware device
Processor cycle the process of fetching a program instruction from memory, decoding
the actions required by the instruction and then executing those actions
Clock cycles per second used to measure processor speed; the number of times per
second the processor can carry out one or more instructions.

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Expression type questions :

Answer :
• 1 mark for sight of 8
• 1 mark for sight of 1024
• 1 mark for the complete expression (3 × 1024 × 8) that includes each component
multiplied.
• Accept 1024.
➡ Award all three marks for the result of the calculation:
24,576.

Additional Guidance
• Award 1 mark for sight of:
o 3072 (as this implies sight of 1024 ).
• Award 2 marks for sight of:
o 8192 (as this implies sight of 8 and (1024 )).

Answer
• 1 mark for sight of 8
• 1 mark for sight of 1024
• 1 mark for a complete expression
(4 × 1024² × 8)
that includes 1024² OR 1024 × 1024 OR 2²⁰ and each component multiplied.
• Accept 1024.
➡ Award all three marks for the result of the calculation:
33,554,432

Additional Guidance
• Award 1 mark for sight of:
o 4,194,304 OR 4,096
as this implies sight of 1024
• Award 2 marks for sight of:
o 8,388,608 OR 8,192 OR 32,768
as this implies sight of 8 AND (1024).

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