3.2 - Memory Technologies Flashcards
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What is virtual memory and how is it used in Windows?
Virtual memory is a space on a hard drive or SSD used to temporarily store data when RAM is full. In Windows, you can configure virtual memory through the Performance Options in the Advanced tab.
How does virtual memory differ from actual RAM in terms of speed?
Virtual memory is slower than actual RAM because it uses a hard drive or SSD, which has slower data transfer speeds compared to RAM.
What is multichannel memory and how does it improve system performance?
Multichannel memory (dual channel, triple channel, or quad channel) spreads the memory load across multiple modules, increasing data throughput.
How should memory modules be installed in a multichannel setup?
Ideally, the same types of memory modules should be used in each slot designated for multichannel memory. Slots are often color-coded to indicate which should be used together.
What is parity memory and how does it function?
Parity memory adds an extra parity bit to detect errors in RAM, but it cannot correct them. It identifies errors by checking if the number of ones in the data is even.
What is error correcting code (ECC) memory and how does it differ from parity memory?
ECC memory not only detects but also corrects errors in RAM, improving data integrity over parity memory, which only detects errors.
How is the parity bit calculated and used in memory systems?
The parity bit is calculated to ensure an even number of ones in the data. For example, if the data has an odd number of ones, a parity bit of 1 is added to make it even.
How can you test data for correctness using parity bits?
To test data, count the number of ones in the data including the parity bit. If the total number of ones is even (for even parity), the data is considered valid.
What happens if the parity bit does not match the expected even number of ones?
If the parity bit causes the total number of ones to be odd, it indicates an error in the data, meaning the data is not valid.
