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Different STORAGES used in Computers

Memory Hierarchy

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  • Register: Smallest unit of storage. It is a part of CPU itself.

    • A register may hold an instruction, a storage address, or any data (such as bit sequence or individual characters).
    • Registers are a type of computer memory used to quickly accept, store, and transfer data and instructions that are being used immediately by the CPU.

  • Cache: Additional memory system that temporarily stores frequently used instructions and data for quicker processing by the CPU.

  • Main Memory: RAM.

  • Secondary Memory: Storage media, on which computer can store data & programs.

Comparison ðŸĪš

  1. Cost:

    • Primary storages are costly.
    • Registers are most expensive due to expensive semiconductors & labour.
    • Secondary storages are cheaper than primary.

  2. Access Speed:

    • Primary has higher access speed than secondary memory.
    • Registers has highest access speed, then comes cache, then main memory.

  3. Storage size:

    • Secondary has more space.

  4. Volatility:

    • Primary memory is volatile. (Data is lost when power is turned off.)
    • Secondary is non-volatile. (Data is retained even when power is turned off.)