Computer Memory Hierarchy Design

5 Questions

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?

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?

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?

Examples of External Memory or Secondary Memory include Magnetic Disk, Optical Disk, and Magnetic Tape.

What are examples of Internal Memory or Primary Memory?

Examples of Internal Memory or Primary Memory include Main Memory, Cache Memory, and CPU registers.

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