Things You Need to Know About Read Only Memory (ROM)

If you have your computer at home, there is a good chance that you have already heard about ROM or Read Only Memory. It works as a medium for storage in computers. ROM continues to keep information and data even after you have already shut your computers down so that whenever your computer boots up, you can readily access the data.

It works just like a long-term memory capable of storing your data on your computer and other devices. Read Only Memory has the data that gives your computer the data that enables it to boot up properly. If you are interested and want to know more about Read Only Memory, your better read further on the article we have for you.

What is ROM?

Since it is called Read Only Memory, it can only be read, and can’t be altered or changed in any way. It is non-volatile and permanent, which means that everything can still be stored long after your device has lost its power. One great thing about ROM is that it doesn’t permit any modifications or alterations after it has been made. So, if you ever attempt to modify ROM, you simply wouldn’t be capable of doing it.

Things to Know about ROM

Frequency

A ROM’s frequency is different from computer to computer. EPROM or Erasable Programmable ROM chips permits its users to write and rewrite them. This releases a certain UV or ultraviolet light frequency that burns out all the tiny modifications done in the EPROM to access its circuits.

Latency

The latency of ROM is an essential part of the design of a CPU. a ROM’s latency simply refers to the length of time that it takes for all the applications on your PC to acknowledge an inquiry made by the person. If you ever make a command or request, the time it takes for your PC to acknowledge that a certain request is called the latency.

ROM primarily owns blocks that contain both the input address and the output data, which then gives a two or one clock cycle latency in setting the address to input the information and retrieving the data back.

Capacity

The BIOS information of a PC and other essential data can be found in a ROM chip. As it only needs to store this, a ROM’s capacity shouldn’t be that huge compared to other types of memory in a computer that several megabytes would be sufficient enough. You should also know that the data stored in a ROM are only in megabytes.

Normally, a ROM stores up to eight or four megabytes of memory in a single chip. Today, a normal storage capacity of a ROM is only four megabytes for each chip. However, some would reach eight megabytes as well.

Types of ROM

Another thing that you have to know about Read Only Memory is the types and what are their major differences amongst these types of ROM. One way of finding out the difference is based on how the data was stored while they were in the process of being produced.

Programmable ROM

As it is called Programmable ROM, it is programmed after manufacturing, so it is made like an empty memory. One can buy an empty memory and later attach the necessary contents to it by using a Programmable ROM program.

Erasable Programmable ROM

Abbreviated as EPROM, an Erasable Programmable ROM is a non-volatile memory because it belongs to the ROM family. Hence, after losing the source of power, it can retain the information. The limitation of not being able to modify data after being programmed in a PROM was overcome by an Erasable Programmable ROM.

Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM

Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM or EEPROM is manufactured to explicitly overcome the disadvantages of the aforementioned types of ROM. This type of ROM can be easily erased by utilizing electrical signals and replacing the UV rays. This process can be achieved in just under ten milliseconds.

Flash Memory

The last type of ROM we have is Flash Memory, which is used as a medium of storage in computers. It can easily be reprogrammed and electrically erased. The advantage of using this type of ROM is the fast transfer speed.

Takeaway

Computers aren’t only determined with the best and the largest SSDs or the best graphics cards. Even a small piece of equipment can act as an important part of a computer, and without it, it simply wouldn’t be able to function the way you want it to.