Computer Systems - Tutorial 2
1. Describe the essential difference between Random-Access Memory (RAM) and Read-Only Memory (ROM). What is meant by the term VOLATILE memory?
2. A CPU possesses 20 address lines. How many memory locations is it therefore capable of addressing directly?
3. You have been asked to design a memory of size 64Kbytes. However, you only have access to circuits which are configured as 16K x 4 bits. Show:-
(i) what the 16K x 4 bit devices look like i.e. how many data lines and how many address lines.
(ii) any other control lines that you think are necessary.
(iii) how you would use these devices to construct the 64Kbyte memory required.
4. Show how the INTEL processors that are used in PCs calculate, from the segment address, and the address within segment, the actual physical address of each memory location. What implication does this have upon the calculation of addresses?
5. Why is it necessary in computer memory to have different memory types i.e. RAM and ROM?