Short Notes on Ram and Rom Memory

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Name: Yakubu Salisu Reg. Number: 01132014D Programme: HND Accountancy Level: 100 Class: 1A Course: Computer Literacy SHORT NOTES ON RAM AND ROM ASSIGNMENT All computers need a place to temporarily store information while other pieces of information are being processed. In digital computers, information storage is normally conducted at two different levels: primary memory (made up of semiconductor RAM and ROM chips) and mass storage( usually involving floppy and hard disk drives). • Read only Memory (ROM) – which contains the computers permanent start-up programs • Random Access Memory (RAM) – which is quick enough to operate directly with the microprocessor and can be read from and written to as often desired. ROM devices store information permanently and are used to hold programs and data that do not change. RAM devices only retain the information stored in them as long as electrical power is applied to the IC. Any interruption of power will cause the contents of the memory to vanish. This is referred to as volatile memory. ROM, on the other hand, is non-volatile. Every system board contains one or two ROM IC’s that hold the systems Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) program. The BIOS program contains the basic instructions for communication between the microprocessor and the various input and output devices in the system. Until recently, this information was stored permanently inside the ROM chips and could only be replaced by changing the chips. Contemporary ROM chips RAM (Random Access Memory) A random-access device allows stored data to be accessed directly in any random order. In contrast, other data storage media such as hard disks, CDs, DVDs and magnetic tape, as well as early primary memory types such as drum memory, read and write data only in a predetermined order, consecutively, because of mechanical

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