Prologic Recruitment Ltd

Training Division

A+ Part I Computer Hardware

MEMORY

Mathew Abraham

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MEMORY
 Key Concepts
 RAM – Random Access Memory
 ROM – Read Only Memory
 Static

 Dynamic

 Packaging

 Troubleshooting

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Key Concepts
 RAM – Fast Access To Information
- Volatile – needs constant power.

 ROM – Non-Volatile Storage.

Long Term Storage of Information

- System BIOS.

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ROM Evolution

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RAM
 STATIC
- Does not need to be refreshed.
- More expensive used for cache.
 DYNAMIC (DRAM)

- Needs to be constantly refreshed.

- Access time measured in Nano
Seconds

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STATIC RAM
 L1 - Cache is onboard the CPU

 L2 – Cache External to the CPU

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Memory Performance

HIT
MISS
PAGE FAULT

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Packaging SIMM
 SIMM - 30 or 72 pin Single inline
memory module.

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DIMM
 DIMM – 168 or 184 pin Dual Inline
Memory Module.

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SODIMM

Pentium Laptops

64 bit Data Path

32 bit data path

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Memory Banking
 How many memory sticks does it
take to match the data path of the
CPU

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 Parity
 Even or Odd Parity
 Used to detect (But Not Fix) single bit
errors
 One extra bit for every 8 bits

- (32 bits = 36 (32 + 4 parity bits)

 Counts the number ones in each byte

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Parity

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ECC – Error Correcting Code
 Can fix single bit errors on the fly
 Cant fix two or more errors
 Uses larger groups of bits to protect
data
- 7 bits for 32 bit memory.
- 8 bits for 64 bit memory.

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 Troubleshooting
 Place RAM chips security in socket
 200 series POST errors are memory
errors. (power on self test)
 RAM is an FRU (field replaceable unit)
 If a memory is bad replace it.

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