Following are the different types of memory technologies used in electronic devices. The two major categories are volatile and non-volatile. Volatile chips lose their content the instant power is removed, while non-volatile memories retain their content. See early memories for a blast from the past.
Volatile
Rewritable - Byte Addressable (DRAM and SRAM)
Dynamic RAM (DRAM) and static RAM (SRAM) chips are the "working storage" in every computer. DRAM is the main memory in a computer and SRAM is used for high-speed caches and buffers. Both types are "byte addressable," which means that data can be read and written one byte at a time. Their major drawback is that RAM chips require power to hold their content. See dynamic RAM, static RAM and byte addressable.
Future Memories
The Holy Grail for future computer memories is to create a byte addressable RAM chip with the speed of static RAM, the density of dynamic RAM and the non-volatility of flash. See future RAM chips.
Non-Volatile
Rewritable - Byte Addressable (EEPROM, FeRAM)
EEPROM and FeRAM chips offer the byte addressability of DRAM and SRAM chips, but are less dense and more costly. See EEPROM and FeRAM.
Rewritable - Block Writes (flash memory)
Flash memory is the most widely used non-volatile memory chip in both computers and consumer electronics (CE) devices. Although reads are random access to the byte level, writing is done at the block level similar to writing a disk sector. See flash memory.
Rewritable When Removed (EPROM)
EPROM chips are initially written in an external "programmer" device and must be removed from the circuit board and placed back in the device for reprogramming. See EPROM.
Permanent (ROM and PROM)
Data and instructions in ROM and PROM chips can never be changed. ROMs are manufactured, while PROMs are programmed in an external device like EPROMs. See ROM and PROM.
Volatile
Rewritable - Byte Addressable (DRAM and SRAM)
Dynamic RAM (DRAM) and static RAM (SRAM) chips are the "working storage" in every computer. DRAM is the main memory in a computer and SRAM is used for high-speed caches and buffers. Both types are "byte addressable," which means that data can be read and written one byte at a time. Their major drawback is that RAM chips require power to hold their content. See dynamic RAM, static RAM and byte addressable.
Future Memories
The Holy Grail for future computer memories is to create a byte addressable RAM chip with the speed of static RAM, the density of dynamic RAM and the non-volatility of flash. See future RAM chips.
Non-Volatile
Rewritable - Byte Addressable (EEPROM, FeRAM)
EEPROM and FeRAM chips offer the byte addressability of DRAM and SRAM chips, but are less dense and more costly. See EEPROM and FeRAM.
Rewritable - Block Writes (flash memory)
Flash memory is the most widely used non-volatile memory chip in both computers and consumer electronics (CE) devices. Although reads are random access to the byte level, writing is done at the block level similar to writing a disk sector. See flash memory.
Rewritable When Removed (EPROM)
EPROM chips are initially written in an external "programmer" device and must be removed from the circuit board and placed back in the device for reprogramming. See EPROM.
Permanent (ROM and PROM)
Data and instructions in ROM and PROM chips can never be changed. ROMs are manufactured, while PROMs are programmed in an external device like EPROMs. See ROM and PROM.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2008 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- NetSuite moves early to support Chrome
- NetSuite said Friday that it will offer native support for Google's Chrome browser, which is in beta and may not be enterprise strength yet. In a statement, NetSuite said its CRM, e-commerce, accounting and OpenAir unit will support Chrome in phases with support being complete in mid-October....
- Blog posts 2008-09-05
- VMworld is bringing out the vendors
- Planning for an announcement is a challenging task. Large suppliers know that just about whatever they do will be picked up by the media and presented to the world. Smaller vendors have a much more difficult time getting heard. So, picking the right place and time for an announcement is...
- Blog posts 2008-09-05
- News to know: Windows 7; Patch preview; Office 2.0; Dell
- Here are today's notable headlines. You can get News To Know via email alert and RSS daily: Ryan Naraine: Critical WMP, MS Office bugs on Patch Tuesday swat list Dancho Danchev:Malware and spam attacks exploiting Picasa and ImageShack Mary Jo Foley:...
- Blog posts 2008-09-05
- Google Chrome already beating Opera
- Google Chrome already beating OperaWaiting for Windows Mobile 6 version... if they can create a version for Windows Mobile to rival safari on iPhone, they'll have me seriously thinking about it.Otherwise, it's just another browser for the desktop by another large conglomerate.Full screen problemI have my task bar on the...
- Discussion threads 2008-09-04
- Red Hat draws its line in the virtual sand with Qumranet
- The caves of Qumran, located in in the highly disputed region of the West Bank that sits between Israel and Jordan and is populated by both Palestinians and Jews, is where the famous Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. The scrolls are said by many Judaic scholars...
- Blog posts 2008-09-04
- Handicapping the Fall Enterprise Software Race: SAP vs. Oracle vs. Microsoft
- It's leapfrog time in enterprise software land, and the next frog to jump will be Oracle, which is hosting industry analysts next week in Redwood Shores and then hosting the entire world at its much-too-massive Open World Conference in San Francisco the following week. Oracle is...
- Blog posts 2008-09-04
- SocialCast: enterprise Twitter/FriendFeed mashup
- SocialCast has revamped its group comms service, given it a facelift, aligned itself more closely to consumery apps like Twitter and FriendFeed and then given it an enterprise twist. As far as I am aware, this is the first enterprise facing application that has gotten close...
- Blog posts 2008-09-04
- Video: Google demos speed benchmarks for Chrome
- Video: Google demos speed benchmarks for ChromeCrash ChromeCrash Chrome by typing :% into the OmniboxIt will also speed up the timeit takes google to track, capture, and store your personal information for future sale or use.RE: Video: Google demos speed benchmarks for ChromeThe best use-case...
- Discussion threads 2008-09-04
- The hits keep coming against plastic bottles with bisphenol-A
- The hits keep coming against plastic bottles with bisphenol-AThis no storyMe have lots BPA and me no see no probelms. Me brain is work just fine.RE: The hits keep coming against plastic bottles with bisphenol-AHere is something many don’t realize. BPA plastics are used extensively in dentistry. ...
- Discussion threads 2008-09-04
- How important is boot performance?
- How important is boot performance?Boot performance is very importantA computer should only take as long to get to working state as a television - 10 seconds tops - with either the option of restoring the exact shutdown state or a fresh rebooted OS.Moderate importance overallBootup speed is not really a...
- Discussion threads 2008-09-04
- My first Linux laptop is the Asus EeePC netbook
- My first Linux laptop is the Asus EeePC netbookTotally different machines.A netbook is a full laptop. Yes, the industry is trying to keep the impression that it is only for casual use, etc, but there is little only constrained by ram these netbooks can't do (well, with Linux). ...
- Discussion threads 2008-09-04
- Family entertainment act
- Family entertainment actGnR"...from aperformance of such work in a motion picture exhibition facility,shall–..."My understanding was that the works in question were not aquired from a "peroformance"Am I wrong?I Didn't say that he wasn't guiltyHey Rich,While I'm glad one of my comments is sufficient to become a blog entry itself, apparently...
- Discussion threads 2008-09-04
- IE8's "best" feature broken: stick with Firefox
- The plug-ins, the add-ons, the "download and use with" programs. So many people have been on about the "porn mode" InPrivate feature, the coloured tabs and the accelerator features, but what seems to be missing from the blogosphere is the entire gallery of additional software for the product. ...
- Blog posts 2008-09-04
- Red Hat acquires Qumranet
- I just received a press release telling me that one of my clients, Qumranet, has been acquired by Red Hat.This was not entirely unexpected. Here's what the release said Red Hat, Inc. (NYSE: RHT), the world's leading provider of open source solutions, today announced...
- Blog posts 2008-09-04
- Ten key differences between Linux and Windows
- Ten key differences between Linux and WindowsRe: Shouldn't this be titledNot everything; for example 1) hardware support - not all closed source OS has the same level of hardware support. 2) Command line vs no command line : Many closed source OS has fully functional command line support.3) Multilayered run...
- Discussion threads 2008-09-04
- Ten key differences between Linux and Windows
- Before debating the relative merits and shortcomings of Linux and Windows, it helps to understand the real distinctions between them. Before debating the relative merits and shortcomings of Linux and Windows, it helps to understand the real distinctions between them. Here are the key differences distilled into one list....
- News items 2008-09-04
- Chrome, IE8, and longer term thinking
- Chrome, IE8, and longer term thinkingI wonder -- would others please weigh inOk, your stats here are out to lunch but I wonder about your basic point.I think it's wrong - that almost any non OS specific programming language can be used to produce a standard code base from...
- Discussion threads 2008-09-04
- Dell's Mini packs Ubuntu, XP
- Dell's Mini packs Ubuntu, XPAt this point you may as well wait for integrated 3GPrices are coming down so fast, plus these things are perfect for carrying around everywhere no matter where you go. Plus the 3G providers will probably subsidize them anyway.That's exactly the netbook I want!I only hope...
- Discussion threads 2008-09-04
- Sony announces three all-in-one desktops
- At a home theater show this week Sony announced three new all-in-one desktops along with a slew A/V receivers, LCD TVs and projectors, and Blu-ray players. All three AIOs offer Blu-ray drives, and the higher-end models offer rewritable BD drives. The entry-level VAIO JS series has a...
- Blog posts 2008-09-04
- S-Record File Compare (exe)
- S-Record File Compare is a utility that loads two separate files sector by sector into memory and then compares the two sectors. A sector being a 64k-byte block. It will then either display the differences as a memory view highlighting the differences in red or find the lines from the...
- Software downloads 2008-09-04
Neighboring Terms
Premier Vendor Content Whitepapers, webcasts & resources from our Power Center Sponsors
- Demo: Virtualization with the Intel® Xeon® Processor
-
In this Flash demo, you'll learn about virtualization performance and features ideal for consolidation, load balancing, and disaster recovery with leading enterprise reliability.
- Watch how the Intel Xeon processor can increase performance and reliability of your servers >>
- BNET Industries
- Check out BNET's newest resource for managers and executives. Need to do research on your competitors? Don't have time to read every trade pub? BNET Industries is the new source for daily news, insights, and research on 11 major industries and 9,000 public companies.
-
- The technology industry from a different angle
-
- See what's hot in the auto industry
-
- Stay on top of the energy industry
