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Understanding Primary Memory Types

Primary memory, also called main memory or internal storage, is the only computer memory directly accessible to the CPU for instructions and active data. It is volatile and needs frequent refreshing to retain data, with common types including SRAM and DRAM. Non-volatile memory does not require refreshing and includes both historical technologies like magnetic core memory as well as current technologies like ROM, flash memory, and various emerging memory types under research.

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Arjun Ashok
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60 views1 page

Understanding Primary Memory Types

Primary memory, also called main memory or internal storage, is the only computer memory directly accessible to the CPU for instructions and active data. It is volatile and needs frequent refreshing to retain data, with common types including SRAM and DRAM. Non-volatile memory does not require refreshing and includes both historical technologies like magnetic core memory as well as current technologies like ROM, flash memory, and various emerging memory types under research.

Uploaded by

Arjun Ashok
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Primary Memory

Abstract
Computer data storage, often called storage or memory, refers to computer components
and recording media that retain digital data used for computing for some interval of time.  It is one of
the fundamental components of all modern computers, and coupled with a central processing unit,
implements the basic computer model used since the 1940s. These core characteristics of any type of
memory are volatility, mutability, accessibility, and addressability.
In contemporary usage, memory usually refers to a form of semiconductor storage known as random-
access memory and sometimes other forms of fast but temporary storage. Similarly, storage today
more commonly refers to mass storage — optical discs, forms of magnetic storage like hard disk
drives, and other types slower than RAM, but of a more permanent nature.
Primary storage, often referred to simply as memory, is the only one directly accessible to the CPU.
The CPU continuously reads instructions stored there and executes them as required. Any data
actively operated on is also stored there in uniform manner. Computer memory types can be broadly
classified as volatile and non volatile.
Volatile memory needs frequent refreshing inorder to retain the value stored in it. Different historical
volatile memories are delay line memory, selectron tube and Williams tube. Currently widely used
volatile memories are SRAM and DRAM. And upcoming memories in this category are T-RAM, Z-
RAM and TT-RAM.
Non-volatile memory doesn’t need frequent refreshing for the data too be retained in it. Historical
non-volatile memories used includes drum memory, magnetic core memory, plated wire memory,
bubble, twistor memory. Currently, ROM, Flash Memory, FeRAM, MRAM and PRAM are widely
accepted techniques. Upcoming advancements in this section are CBRAM, SONOS, RRAM,
Racetrack Memory, NRAM, Millipede.

Arjun Ashok V
101002010
1st Semester,
MS VLSI CAD

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