Lucas, Ceasar Mae B. January
8, 2013
Memory Module
Computer Memory-
a device that stores data for use by computer. A computer stores a number into
an exact location in memory and later makes the value. Most memories signify
data with the binary number system. In the binary number system, numbers are symbolized
by sequences of the two binary digits 0 and 1, which are called bits. In a
computer, the two possible values of a bit match to the on and off states of
the computer's electronic circuit board.
In
memory, bits are gathered together so they can epitomize larger values. A group
of eight bits is called a byte and can signify decimal numbers ranging from 0
to 255. The specific sequence of bits in the byte encodes a unit of information,
such as a keyboard character. One byte naturally represents a single character
such as a number, letter, or symbol. Most computers operate by operating groups
of 2, 4, or 8 bytes called words.
Memory
capacity is usually calculated in terms of kilobytes, megabytes, and gigabytes.
Though the prefixes kilo, mega,
and giga, are taken from the
metric system, they have a little dissimilar meaning when applied to computer
memories. In the metric system, kilo means 1 thousand, mega, 1 million and giga,
1 billion. When applied to computer memory, however, the prefixes are measured
as powers of two, with kilo- meaning 2 raised to the 10th power, or 1,024;
mega- meaning 2 raised to the 20th power, or 1,048,576; and giga- meaning 2
raised to the 30th power, or 1,073,741,824. So, a kilobyte is 1,024 bytes and a
megabyte is 1,048,576 bytes. It is easier to remember that a kilobyte is about
1,000 bytes, a megabyte is about 1 million bytes, and a gigabyte is about 1
billion bytes.
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