Difference between RAM and ROM

RAM (Volatile memory) ROM (Non-volatile memory)

1. RAM stands for Random Access Memory. 1. ROM stands for Read Only Memory.
2. RAM data is volatile. Data is present till 2. ROM data is non-volatile. Data remains
power supply is present. even after power supply is not present.
3.RAM is temporary memory. 3.ROM is permanent memory.
4. RAM data can be read, erased or 4. ROM data is read only.
modified.
5. RAM is used to store data that CPU needs 5. ROM is used to store data that in needed
for current instruction processing. to bootstrap the computer.
6. RAM speed is quite high. 6. ROM speed is slower than RAM.
7. CPU can access data stored on RAM. 7. Data to be copied from ROM to RAM so
that CPU can access its data.
8. RAM memory is large and high capacity. 8. ROM is generally small and of low
capacity.
9. RAM is used as CPU Cache, Primary 9. ROM is used as firmware by
Memory. microcontrollers.
10. RAM is costly. 10. ROM is cheap.
11.Types of RAM –SRAM and DRAM 11.Types of ROM – PROM, EPROM, EEPROM

RAM (RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY)

- When you turn ON the computer, operating system and other files are loaded into RAM,
usually from hard disk.
- RAM is the place in a computer where the operating system, application programs, and data
in current use are kept so that they can be quickly reached to processor.
- Like hard disk, RAM never runs out of memory. It keeps operating, but much more slowly.
- RAM is available in two types Static RAM and Dynamic RAM

Difference between SRAM and DRAM

SRAM DRAM
1.It stands for Static Random Access 1.It stands for Dynamic Random Access
Memory. Memory.
2.It uses transistor to store a single bit of 2.It uses separate capacitor to store each bit
data. of data.
3.It does not need periodic refreshment to 3.It need periodic refreshment to maintain
maintain data. data.
4.SRAM structure is complex. 4.DRAM structure is simple.
5.It is faster. 5.It is slower compare to SRAM
6.It is expensive. 6.It is cheaper than SRAM.
7.It consumes more power. 7.It consumes less power.
8.SRAM is used in cache memory. 8.DRAM is used in main memory.
ROM (READ ONLY MEMORY)

- ROM is “built in” computer memory containing data that normally can only be read not
written to.
- Rom contains the programming that allows your computer to be “booted up” each time you
turn it on.
- A small battery, CMOS (Complementary metal oxide semiconductor) is used to sustain the
program stored in ROM chip.
- One of the most important programs stored in the ROM is the BIOS (Basic Input Output
System). It is the program letting your application programs and hardware interacting with
each other.
- The BIOS also contains a program called Power-On-Self-Test. This checks the motherboard
and peripheral devices are working properly or not.
- Following are the types of ROM,

1) PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory)

- PROM is a blank version of ROM.
- PROM is read-only memory that can be modified only once by a user.
- The user buys a blank PROM and enters the desired contents using a special machine called
PROM programmer.
- Inside the PROM chip, there are small fuses which are burnt open during programming. This
process is known as burning the PROM.
- It can be programmed only once and is not erasable.
- It is used in cell phones, video game consoles, medical devices, and more.

2) EPROM (Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory)

- EPROM is a type of ROM that can be reprogramed and erased many times.
- The method to erase the data is very different; it comes with a quartz window through
which a specific frequency of ultraviolet light is passed for around 40 minutes to erase the
data. So, it retains its content until it is exposed to the ultraviolet light.
- The main difficulty in the process of erasing is the user must disconnect the memory from
the main circuit.
- You need a special device called a PROM programmer or PROM burner to reprogram the
EPROM.

- It is used in some micro-controllers to store program, e.g., some versions of Intel 8048.

3) Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM)

- EEPROM is programmed and erased electrically.
- It can be erased and reprogrammed about ten thousand times. Both erasing and
programming take about 4 to 10 ms (millisecond).
- EEPROMs do not need to be removed from the computer to be modified.
- In EEPROM, any location can be selectively erased and programmed. EEPROMs can be
erased one byte at a time, rather than erasing the entire chip. Hence, the process of
reprogramming is flexible but slow.
 - It is used for storing a small amount of data in computer and electronic systems and devices
such as circuit boards. The BIOS of a computer is stored in this memory.

- A special form of EEPROM is flash memory. The only difference is, in EEPROM data is written
or erased one byte at a time whereas, in flash memory data is written and erased in blocks
so it is faster than EEPROM.

CONTROLLER

- A device that controls the transfer of data from a computer to a peripheral device and vice
versa is called controller. The controller is always a single chip.

- When you purchase a computer, it comes with all the necessary controllers for standard
components, such as the display screen, keyboard, and disk drives.

- If you attach additional devices, you may need to insert new controllers that on expansion
bus.

- There are three standard bus architectures for PCs,

- AT bus (Advance Technology), PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect), and SCSI (Small
Component System Interconnect).
- A controller for a hard disk is called a hard disk controller (HDC).

DMA (Direct Memory Access)

- When a large amount of data is to be transmitted between the processor and any external
device is a very slow process.
- So, to overcome above problem special IC called DMA controller is placed in between
processor and I/O devices.
- This IC will take the control of system bus and bypasses processor and does data transfer
between I/O devices.

TYPES OF SYSTEM BUSES

- BUS - Bus is set of wires. It is used to connect computer components and transfer data
between them.
- Every bus is composed of two distinct parts: the data bus and address bus.
- Different types of buses are as follows,

DATA BUS
- The data bus is used to carry data being transferred.
- It is bi-directional bus.

ADDRESS BUS
- The address bus is used to carry memory address of the data.
- It is uni-directional bus. CPU sends address on this bus.

CONTROL BUS
- The control bus is used to send different control signals like read, write etc.
- Together all three buses is referred as SYSTEM BUS.

USB (UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS)

- A two way, high speed serial interface to which you can dynamically connect and disconnect
devices that are recognised by the computer. (plug and play)
- With the help of it, up to 127 devices can be connected on one port.
-
ISA Bus (Industry Standard Architecture)
- ISA was introduced by IBM.
- ISA was originally an 8-bit computer bus that was later expanded to a 16-bit bus. It runs at
8MHz.
- It is used for slow speed devices like modems and sound cards.
- This bus is not in use now.
-
EISA (Extended Industry Standard Architecture)
- The EISA bus is found on Intel 80386, 80486 and early Pentium computers
- The EISA bus provided 32-bit slots at an 8.33 MHz cycle rate for use with 386DX or higher
processors.
- The data transfer rate can be reach a peak of 33MBPS.
- It was design to compete with MCA (Micro Channel Architecture).
- The EISA bus is backward compatible , it never became widely used and is no longer found in
computers today.

- MCA (Micro Channel Architecture)

- This bus was introduced to overcome the drawback of ISA bus.
- When the 80386DX was introduced with its 32-bit data bus, IBM decided to create a bus to
match this width, MCA is 32 bits wide.
- MCA automatically configured adapter cards, so there was no need to set the jumpers.

VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association)

- In 1992, the VESA local bus (VLB) was developed in order to offer a local bus dedicated to
graphics systems.
- The VLB is a 16-bit ISA connector with an added 16-bit connector.
- The VLB bus is a 32-bit bus initially intended to work a bandwidth of 33 MHz with 80486
processor.

PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect)

- The PCI bus transfers data at higher speeds to and from the devices.
- It is 32-bit wide and runs at 33MHz.
- It is used for most modern expansion cards, like graphics cards, high speed monitors,
modems etc.
- The PCI bus is controlled by special circuitry in the chipset that is designed to handle it.