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Memory Hierachy

EASY TO LEARN

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4 views4 pages

Memory Hierachy

EASY TO LEARN

Uploaded by

jemimaa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Ideally, computer memory should be fast, large and inexpensive.

Unfortunately, it is impossible
to meet all the three of these requirements using one type of memory.

Memory Hierarchy

AU; Dec.-14,18, May-19

• Ideally, computer memory should be fast, large and inexpensive. Unfortunately, it is impossible
to meet all the three of these requirements using one type of memory.

• Increased speed and size are achieved at increased cost.

• Very fast memory system can be achieved if SRAM chips are used. These chips are expensive
and for the cost reason it is impracticable to build a large main memory using SRAM chips. The
only alternative is to use DRAM chips for large main memories.

• Processor fetches the code and data from the main memory to execute the program. The
DRAMS which form the main memory are slower devices. So it is necessary to insert wait states
in memory read/write cycles. This reduces the speed of execution.

• The solution for this problem is come out with the fact that most of the computer programs
work with only small sections of code and data at a particular time. In the memory system, small
section of SRAM is added along with main memory, referred to as cache memory.

• The program which is to be executed is loaded in the main memory, but the part of program
(code) and data that work at a particular time is usually accessed from the cache memory.

• This is accomplished by loading the active part of code and data from main memory to cache
memory. The cache controller looks after this swapping between main memory and cache
memory with the help of DMA controller.

• The cache memory just discussed is called secondary cache. Recent processors have the built-in
cache memory called primary cache.

• DRAMs along with cache allow main memories in the range of tens of megabytes to be
implemented at a reasonable cost, the size and better speed performance. But the size of memory
is still small compared to the demands of large programs with voluminous data. A solution is
provided by using secondary storage, mainly magnetic disks and magnetic tapes to implement
large memory spaces. Very large disks are available at a reasonable price, sacrificing the speed.

• From the above discussion, we can realize that to make efficient computer system it is not
possible to rely on a single memory component, but to employ a memory hierarchy. Using
memory hierarchy all of different types of memory units are employed to give efficient computer
system. A typical memory hierarchy is in Fig. 8.2.1.
• In summary, we can say that a huge amount of cost-effective storage can be provided by
magnetic disks. A large, yet affordable, main memory can be built with DRAM technology along
with the cache memory to achieve better speed performance.
• The Fig. 8.2.2 shows how memory hierarchy can be employed in a computer system. As shown
in the Fig. 8.2.2, the bottom of the hierarchy magnetic tapes and magnetic disks are used as a
secondary memory. This memory is also known auxiliary memory.

• The main memory occupies a central position by being able to communicate directly with the
CPU and with auxiliary memory devices through an I/O processor.

Fig. 8.2.3 shows common memory hierarchies with two, three and four levels.

Review Questions

1. Explain the necessity of memory hierarchy. Write a note on memory hierarchy.

2. Draw different memory address layouts and brief about the technique used to increase the
average rate of fetching words from the main memory.
AU: Dec.-14, Marks 8

3. Draw the memory hierarchy in a typical computer system. AU: Dec.-18, May-19, Marks 2

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