Question

Explain memory hierarchy in a computer system

Answer 1

Memory hierarchy a concept that is necessary for the CPU to be able to manipulate data. This is because it is only able to get instructions from cache memory. Cache memory is located on the processor chip, and is the fastest kind of memory. As a result of this, it is also the smallest, meaning that we cant hold all of our processes in it at once. So we use RAM. RAM is much larger than cache memory, but not located directly on the CPU, so it is slower. Instructions are loaded into RAM until the CPU needs them. They are only held as long as power is supplied, and this is why we need Disk memory. Disk memory is what holds all of our files and programs when not in use. It is the memory we are all most familiar with.