Monday, December 26, 2011

ROM and its role in computer systems

ROM stands for Read only memory. ROM devices are usually those memory modules which have been fabricated with data permanently. But in most modern ROMs the data stored can be modified slowly and is difficult when compared to other memories.

So, ROM chips are used in places where there is a very little need for the modification of the data stored. ROM is mostly used in the development of firmware memory modules as firmware does not need frequent updates.

Floppy, CDs and DVDs are also a type of ROM although erasable CDs and DVDs exist. But to modify data in a rewritable CD or DVD, the disk should be completely erased and then modified unlike Hard Drives in which the data can be modified without having to erase the entire content. The erasable ROM devices are in their highest form with the NAND flash memory which is being used as a storage substitute in many applications.

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