The memory of the computer is basically divided into three; the Cache, the RAM, and the ROM.
* Cache: this is usually pronounced as ‘cash’. It is a small, high-speed memory area that stores the most recently used instructions or data. The basic idea behind the cache memory is to make it possible for the computer to save the most recently used or accessed segments of a program, data, instruction or process, in the Central Processing Unit, where they can be accessed almost instantaneously. Cache is usually identified as L1, L2, or L3, where the ‘L’ stands for levels away from the CPU. The L1 cache is built into the CPU itself, is the fastest possible storage and is quite expensive. The L2 is outside the CPU but on a high-speed, direct connection to the CPU. Levels beyond 2 are rarely found.
* RAM: Random Access Memory (RAM) is the ‘regular’ memory in a computer. RAM is the memory you can buy and insert in your computer and is usually what people mean when they say, “I’ve got to get more memory”. Today most computers have 64 Mbytes (or more) of RAM. RAM comes in dozens of different configurations, types, pin-outs, and other forms.
* ROM: Read Only Memory (ROM) is used to store information about the computer system that never changes. ROM contains for example, the boot-up routines for the computer.
* Cache: this is usually pronounced as ‘cash’. It is a small, high-speed memory area that stores the most recently used instructions or data. The basic idea behind the cache memory is to make it possible for the computer to save the most recently used or accessed segments of a program, data, instruction or process, in the Central Processing Unit, where they can be accessed almost instantaneously. Cache is usually identified as L1, L2, or L3, where the ‘L’ stands for levels away from the CPU. The L1 cache is built into the CPU itself, is the fastest possible storage and is quite expensive. The L2 is outside the CPU but on a high-speed, direct connection to the CPU. Levels beyond 2 are rarely found.
* RAM: Random Access Memory (RAM) is the ‘regular’ memory in a computer. RAM is the memory you can buy and insert in your computer and is usually what people mean when they say, “I’ve got to get more memory”. Today most computers have 64 Mbytes (or more) of RAM. RAM comes in dozens of different configurations, types, pin-outs, and other forms.
* ROM: Read Only Memory (ROM) is used to store information about the computer system that never changes. ROM contains for example, the boot-up routines for the computer.
