Part 01- Examples Based on Memory representation Techniques Byte Addressable and Word Addressable.
Part 01- Examples Based on Memory representation Techniques Byte Addressable and Word Addressable.
Contents [hide]
- 1 Memory Representation Techniques: Byte Addressable & Word Addressable
- 2 1. Byte Addressable Memory
- 3 2. Word Addressable Memory
- 4 Difference Between Byte & Word Addressable Memory
- 5 Summary
- 6 Part 01- Examples Based on Memory representation Techniques Byte Addressable and Word Addressable.
- 7 CST202 – Computer Organization and Architecture Module: 1
- 8 Instruction Formats (Zero, One, Two and Three Address …
- 9 COMPUTER ORGANIZATION AND ARCHITECTURE
- 10 Unit: III Lecture: 6 (Memory Management) …
- 11 UNIT III Memory Organization
- 12 Byte-‐Addressable Memory
Memory Representation Techniques: Byte Addressable & Word Addressable
In computer architecture, memory can be organized in two primary ways:
-
Byte Addressable Memory
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Word Addressable Memory
Each method defines how data is stored and accessed in memory.
1. Byte Addressable Memory
In byte addressable memory, each individual byte (8 bits) has a unique memory address.
This is the most commonly used method in modern computers.
Used in systems with 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit, and 64-bit processors.
Example:
Assume a memory system with 4-byte (32-bit) words stored in byte-addressable memory.
| Address | Data (1 Byte) |
|---|---|
| 1000 | 10 |
| 1001 | 20 |
| 1002 | 30 |
| 1003 | 40 |
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Here, each byte has its own address (1000, 1001, etc.).
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If the processor is 32-bit, it fetches 4 bytes (one word) at a time.
To fetch a word (4 bytes) at address 1000, the system reads:
Word=[1000,1001,1002,1003]\text{Word} = [1000, 1001, 1002, 1003]
2. Word Addressable Memory
In word addressable memory, each word (not byte) has a unique address.
A word consists of multiple bytes (e.g., 2, 4, or 8 bytes).
Used in older computer architectures like Digital Signal Processors (DSPs).
Example:
Assume a 16-bit system with 2-byte words stored in word-addressable memory.
| Word Address | Data (2 Bytes) |
|---|---|
| 1000 | 10 20 |
| 1001 | 30 40 |
| 1002 | 50 60 |
Each word address refers to multiple bytes.
If we request Word 1001, we get [30, 40].
Difference Between Byte & Word Addressable Memory
| Feature | Byte Addressable Memory | Word Addressable Memory |
|---|---|---|
| Addressing Unit | Byte (8 bits) | Word (multiple bytes) |
| Memory Usage | Efficient for small data | May waste space |
| Access Speed | Slower (more addresses) | Faster (fewer addresses) |
| Example Systems | Modern computers (Intel, ARM) | Some DSPs, older systems |
Summary
Byte Addressable Memory → Each byte has an address (used in modern computers).
Word Addressable Memory → Each word (2, 4, or 8 bytes) has an address (used in older architectures).
Would you like more numerical examples or detailed diagrams?