<
storage,
architecture> The storage device used by a computer to hold the currently executing program and its working data. A modern computer's main memory is built from
random access memory integrated circuits. In the old days
ferrite core memory was one popular form of main memory, leading to the use of the term "
core" for main memory.
Computers have several other sorts of memory, distinguished by their access time, storage capicity, cost, and the typical lifetime or rate of change of the data they hold.
Registers in the
CPU are fast, few, expensive and typically change every few machine instructions. Other kinds are
cache,
PROM,
magnetic disk (which may be used for
virtual memory), and
magnetic tape.
(1996-11-04)
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