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What is Memory Hierarchy in computer system design?
What is Memory Hierarchy in computer system design?
Memory Hierarchy is an enhancement to organize the memory in such a way that it can minimize the access time.
Why is Memory Hierarchy required in the computer system?
Why is Memory Hierarchy required in the computer system?
Memory Hierarchy is required to optimize the memory available in the computer, as different types of memory have different sizes, costs, and access speeds.
What are the two main types of Memory Hierarchy Design?
What are the two main types of Memory Hierarchy Design?
The two main types of Memory Hierarchy Design are External Memory or Secondary Memory, and Internal Memory or Primary Memory.
What are examples of External Memory or Secondary Memory?
What are examples of External Memory or Secondary Memory?
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What are examples of Internal Memory or Primary Memory?
What are examples of Internal Memory or Primary Memory?
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Study Notes
Memory Hierarchy in Computer System Design
- A memory hierarchy is a multi-level hierarchy of memory subsystems that provide a trade-off between access time, memory size, and cost
Importance of Memory Hierarchy
- Required to reduce the gap between CPU speed and memory access time
- Improves system performance by minimizing the time it takes for the CPU to access memory
Types of Memory Hierarchy Design
- Tight Coupling: Processors and main memory are closely coupled, and the CPU directly accesses main memory
- Loose Coupling: Processors and main memory are not directly connected, and the CPU accesses cache memory first
External Memory or Secondary Memory
- Examples include:
- Hard disk drives (HDD)
- Solid-state drives (SSD)
- Flash drives
- Magnetic tapes
- Optical discs (CD, DVD, Blu-ray)
Internal Memory or Primary Memory
- Examples include:
- Cache Memory: Small, fast memory that stores frequently accessed data
- Main Memory (RAM): Temporary storage for data and program instructions
- Registers: Small amount of on-chip memory that stores data temporarily while it is being processed
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Description
Explore the concept of memory hierarchy and its characteristics in computer system design. Understand the need for memory hierarchy to minimize access time and learn about the levels of memory hierarchy based on program behavior.