Internal storage areas in the computer. The term memory identifies data storage that comes in the form of chips, and the word storage is used for memory that exists on tapes or disks. Moreover, the term memory is usually used as a shorthand for physical memory, which refers to the actual chips capable of holding data. Some computers also use virtual memory, which expands physical memory onto a hard disk.
Every computer comes with a certain amount of physical memory, usually referred to as main memory or RAM. You can think of main memory as an array of boxes, each of which can hold a single byte of information. A computer that has 1 megabyte of memory, therefore, can hold about 1 million bytes (or characters) of information.
Listed here are some of the terminology used in conjunction to memory, and it's properties.
Cache A small, fast memory holding recently accessed data, designed to speed up subsequent access to the same data Typically used between a processor and main memory
Capacitance The property of a circuit element that allows it to store an electrical charge
CAS Column address strobe is the signal which tells the DRAM to accept the given address as a column address It is used with RAS and a row address to select a bit within the DRAM
CAS-B4-RAS (CBR) CAS before RAS Column address strobe before row address strobe A refresh technique in which the DRAM keeps track of the next row it needs to refresh
Check Bits Extra data bits provided by a module to support ECC
Chip Scale Package A type of ball grid array in which the package is roughly the size of the die
Chip Set One or more chips on a motherboard that control the data flow between the processor, memory, and the other components of the system
Clock rate The number of pulses emitted from a computers clock in one second It determines the rate at which logical or arithmetic gating is performed in a synchronous computer
COAST Cache on a stick Coast modules are used to upgrade a motherboards L2 cache and Tag memory on some socket 7 and older motherboards
COB Chip on board A system in which semiconductor dice are mounted directly on a PC board and connected with bonded wires or solder bumps The dice are usually mechanically protected with epoxy
Column Part of the memory array A bit can be stored where a column and a row intersect
Compact Flash A small flash memory module The memory chips are enclosed in a plastic case and retain data after they are removed from the system The most common uses for these are in pagers, handheld computers, cell phones, digital cameras, and audio players
Contacts See Edge Contacts
Continuity RIMM TM Modules that are used to fill all unused RIMMTM sockets in a system Continuity-RIMMs do not use any active components; instead, they are used to continue the channel so that the signal can be properly terminated at the motherboard
Controller One of the major units in a computer that interprets and carries out the instructions in a program
CPU Central processing unit The computer chip primarily responsible for executing instructions
