Computer Organization

Memory

Memory is random access - RAM - in that any location (or cell) can be accessed in the same amount of time. (Click here for a description of RAM) Other memory organizations can include serial (usually on magnetic tape), or rotating (drums, disks).
Each memory location has an address and contents (typically one byte, where a byte is 8 bits).
A memory access is a read (fetch) or a write (store).
If N bits are used to represent the address of a memory location, then the (virtual) address space is 2^N bytes.
Example: if N = 32 then the address space is 2³²= 2²· 2³⁰ = 4 GB (gigabyte).
Question: what does it mean to say you have a "16-bit" or a "32-bit" processor?

How Computer Memory Works by Jeff Tyson
How Removable Storage Works by Jeff Tyson
RAM Guide: DRAM and SRAM Basics, by Jon "Hannibal" Stokes.
How RAM Works by Jeff Tyson
How Caching Works by Guy Provos

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Last Updated 2002/01/23
© L.Heath, 2000, upgraded by J.A.N. Lee, as per date above.