You are on page 1of 7

DEFINITION: Read Only Memory (ROM) is computer memory that can always store data and applications within

it. There are various types of ROM with names like EPROM (Erasable ROM) or EEPROM (Electrically Erasable ROM). MEANING: ROM is "in-built" computer memory containing data that normally can only be read, not written to. ROM contains the programming that allows your computer to be "booted up" or regenerated each time you turn it on. Unlike a computer's random access memory (RAM), the data in ROM is not lost when the computer power is turned off. The ROM is constant by a small longlife battery in your computer.

Introduction to non-volatile MEMORY


The non-volatile memory such as erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM) and electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM or Flash ROM) are sometimes referred to, in an abbreviated way, as "read-only memory" (ROM); although these types of memory can be erased and reprogrammed multiple times, writing to this memory takes longer and may require different procedures than reading the memory. When used in this less precise way, "ROM" indicates a non-volatile memory which serves functions typically provided by mask ROM, such as storage of program code and nonvolatile data.

The simplest type of solid state ROM is as old as semiconductor technology itself. Combinational logic gates can be joined manually to map n-bit address input onto arbitrary values of m-bit data output (a look-up table). With the invention of the integrated circuit came mask ROM. PROM, invented in 1956, allowed users to program its contents exactly once by physically altering its structure with the application of high-voltage pulses. The 1971 invention of EPROM essentially solved problem 3, since EPROM can be repeatedly reset to its un-programmed state by exposure to strong ultraviolet light. EEPROM, invented in 1983, went a long way to solving problem 4, since an EEPROM can be programmed in-place if the containing device provides a means to receive the program contents from an external source . Flash memory, invented at Toshiba in the mid-1980s, and commercialized in the early 1990s, is a form of EEPROM that makes very efficient use of chip area and can be erased and reprogrammed thousands of times without damage.

HISTORY

All of these technologies improved the flexibility of ROM, but at a significant cost-per-chip

Since ROM (at least in hard-wired mask form) cannot be modified, it is really only suitable for storing data which is not expected to need modification for the life of the device. To that end, ROM has been used in many computers to store look-up tables for the evaluation of mathematical and logical functions (for example, a floating-point unit might tabulate the sine function in order to facilitate faster computation). This was especially effective when CPUs were slow and ROM was cheap compared to RAM. The use of ROM to store such small amounts of data has disappeared almost completely in modern general-purpose computers. However, Flash ROM has taken over a new role as a medium for mass storage or secondary storage of files.

USE FOR STORING DATA

SPEED
READING
Although the relative speed of RAM vs. ROM has varied over time, as of 2007 large RAM chips can be read faster than most ROMs. For this reason (and to allow uniform access), ROM content is sometimes copied to RAM or shadowed before its first use, and subsequently read from RAM.

WRITING
For those types of ROM that can be electrically modified, writing speed is always much slower than reading speed, and it may need unusually high voltage, the movement of jumper plugs to apply write-enable signals, and special lock/unlock command codes. Modern NAND Flash achieves the highest write speeds of any rewritable ROM technology, with speeds as high as 15 MB/s (or 70 ns/bit), by allowing (needing) large blocks of memory cells to be written simultaneously.

CONTENT IMAGES
The contents of ROM chips in video game support holders can be extracted with special software or hardware devices.
The resultant memory dump files are known as ROM images, and can be used to produce duplicate units, or in support emulators. The term originated when most console games were distributed on units containing ROM chips, but achieved such general usage that it is still applied to images of fresher games distributed on CD-ROMs or other optical media. ROM images of commercial games usually contain copyrighted software. There is a successful community busy in the illegal distribution and trading of such software. In such circles, the term "ROM images" is sometimes reduced simply to "ROMs" or sometimes changed to "romz" to highlight the connection with "warez".

LOGO

THANK YOU

You might also like