Memory card

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(April 2008)

iniaturi!ation is evident in memory card creation" over time, the physical si!es of the memory cards gro# smaller #hile their respective logical si!es gro# larger. The memory cards listed from left to right are: $ompact flash %&' (), *+ %,'- (), mini*+ %,.. /(), and micro*+ %'.. /(). 0 memory card or flash memory card is solid1state electronic flash memory data storage device capable of storing digital contents. These are mainly used #ith digital cameras, handheld and obile computers, mobile phones, music players, digital cinematography cameras, video game consoles, and other electronics. They offer high re1record1ability, po#er1free storage, small form factor, and rugged environmental specifications. There are also non1solid1state memory cards that do not use flash memory, and there are different types of flash memory. any cards incorporate #ear levelling algorithms in their design. There are many different types of memory cards and 2obs they are used for. *ome common places include in digital cameras, game consoles, cell phones, and industrial applications. P$ card %P$ $30) #ere among first commercial memory card formats %type 3 cards) to come out in the ,44.s, but are no# only mainly used in industrial applications and for 356 2obs %using types 35335333), as a connection standard for devices %such as a modem). 0lso in ,44.s, a number of memory card formats smaller than P$ $ard came out, including $ompactFlash, *mart edia, and iniature $ard. 3n other areas, tiny embedded memory cards %*3+) #ere used in cell phones, game ds. The desire for ultra1small cards for cell1phones, P+0s, and compact digital cameras drove a trend to#ard smaller cards that left the previous generation of 7compact7 cards looking big. 3n digital cameras *mart edia and $ompactFlash had been very successful, in '.., * alone captured 8.9 of the digital camera market and $F had a strangle hold on professional digital cameras. (y '..8 ho#ever, *+5 $ had nearly taken over *mart edia:s spot, though not to the same level and #ith stiff competition coming from emory *tick variants, as #ell as $ompactFlash. 3n industrial fields, even the venerable P$ card %P$ $30) memory cards still manage to maintain a niche, #hile in cell1phones and P+0s, the memory card market is highly fragmented.

Contents
;hide<

, +ata table of selected memory card formats ' 6vervie# of all memory card types & emory cards in video game consoles

= *ee also

[edit] Data table of selected memory card formats

Name

Acronym

Form factor

DRM

P$ $ard

P$ $30 -8.> ? 8= ? &.& mm

@one

$ompactFlash 3

$F13

=& ? &> ? &.& mm

@one

$ompactFlash 33

$F133

=& ? &> ? 8.8 mm

@one

*mart edia

5 * $ =8 ? &A ? ..A> mm

@one

emory *tick

8... ? ',.8 ? '.- mm

agic/ate

emory *tick +uo

*+

&,.. ? '... ? ,.> mm

agic/ate

emory *tick PB6 +uo

*P+

&,.. ? '... ? ,.> mm

agic/ate

emory *tick PB61C/ +uo

*P+D &,.. ? '... ? ,.> mm

agic/ate

emory *tick

icro

'

'

,8.. ? ,'.8 ? ,.' mm

agic/ate

iniature $ard

&A E =8 E &.8 mm

@one

ultimedia $ard

&' ? '= ? ,.8 mm

@one

Beduced *i!e

ultimedia $ard B*1

$ ,> ? '= ? ,.8 mm

@one

$micro $ard

$micro ,' ? ,= ? ,., mm

@one

*ecure +igital card

*+

&' ? '= ? '., mm

$PB

*E*

*E*

Universal Flash *torage

UF*

mini*+ card

mini*+

',.8 ? '. ? ,.= mm

$PB

micro*+ card

micro*+ ,8 ? ,, ? ..A mm

$PB

E+1Picture $ard

E+

'. ? '8 ? ,.A mm

@one

3ntelligent *tick

i*tick

'= E ,- E '.- mm

@one

*erial Flash

odule

*F

=8 E ,8 mm

@one

F card

Fcard

&' E '= E , mm

Unkno#n

@T $ard

@T @TG == E '= E '.8 mm

@one

[edit] Overview of all memory card types

Main article: Comparison of memory cards This section is in a list format that may be better presented sin! prose. Hou can help by converting this section to prose, if appropriate. Iditing help is available. (September 2009) P$ $30 0T0 Type 3 Flash emory $ard %P$ $ard 0T0 Type 3) JJ P$ $30 Type 33, Type 333 cards $ompactFlash $ard %Type 3), $ompactFlash Cigh1*peed $ompactFlash Type 33, $FG%$F'..), $F&..
o

icrodrive ( %>= i())

ini$ard % iniature $ard) %maE >= *mart edia $ard %**F+$) %maE ,'-

() %&.& K,8 K)

E+1Picture $ard, E+1Picture $ard Type emory *tick, agic/ate emory *tick %maE ,'- ()" emory *tick *elect, *tick *elect %7*elect7 means: 'E,'- ( #ith 05( s#itch) *ecure $ agic/ate emory

*ecure +igital %*+ $ard), *ecure +igital Cigh1*peed, *ecure +igital Plus5Dtra5etc %*+ #ith U*( connector)
o o o

mini*+ $ard micro*+ $ard %aka Transflash, T1Flash) *+C$

U1Flash % u1$ard) % u1$ard 0lliance of 6 30) $1Flash *3 card %*ubscriber 3dentity odule)

*mart card %3*6 A-,. $ard *tandard , 3*6 A-,> $ard *tandard, etc.) UF$ %U*( Flash$ard) ;,< %uses U*() F3*C Universal Transportable +isk memory cards:
o o

emory $ard *tandard %uses U*()

$likL %PocketMip), %=.

( PocketMip)

Floppy disk %&' (, N*,'. and N*'=., '1inch, &.81inch, etc.) *)

3ntelligent *tick %i*tick, a U*(1based flash memory card #ith

*E* %*1by1*) memory card, a ne# memory card specification developed by *andisk and *ony. *E* complies to the IEpress$ard industry standard. ;'< @eEflash Winbond *erial Flash oduel %*F ) cards, si!e range , mb, ' mb and = mb.

[edit] Memory cards in video !ame consoles

This section is in a list format that may be better presented sin! prose. Hou can help by converting this section to prose, if appropriate. Iditing help is available. (September 2009) any game consoles have used proprietary solid1state memory cards to store data. 3n recent years read1only optical discs have replaced these memory cards in most current home console systems. Co#ever most portable gaming systems still rely on custom memory cartridges, due to their lo# po#er consumption, smaller physical si!e and reduced mechanical compleEity. The si!es in parenthesis are those of the official, first1party memory cards.

icrosoft DboE line: o DboE emory Unit %o

() (, '8> (, and 8,' ( versions)

DboE &>.

emory Unit %>=

@intendo line:
o o

@intendo >= $ontroller Pak %'8> kbit5&' O(), divided into ,'& pages @intendo /ame$ube emory $ard 84 block %= and ,.,4 block %>= bit5- () versions Wii @intendo /ame$ube compatible bit58,' O(), '8, block %,> bit5' (),

emory $ard compatible %see above) and *ecure +igital card

@intendo +*i *ecure +igital card compatible emory Unit %K U) %,'- O( divided in '.. blocks)

*ega +reamcast Kisual

*ega *aturn memory unit can hold '. blocks of save games.

*ony Play*tation line:

o o o

Play*tation

emory $ard %,

b5,'- O( divided in ,8 blocks) emory $ard emory

The Pocket*tation can act as Play*tation

The Play*tation ' used - ( cards for its o#n content and supported Playstation $ards for back#ard compatibility.

Iarly models of the Play*tation & featured integrated $ompactFlash, *ecure +igital, and emory *tick PB6 +uo support. IEternal attachments allo# the import and eEport of Playstation and Playstation ' emory $ards. Play*tation Portable uses emory *tick icro emory *tick PB6 +uo, #hile its successor, the P*P /o uses $.

/P'D /@U5NinuE based portable games console, uses *+5

@eo1/eo 0I*, released in ,44. by *@O, #as the first video game console able to use a memory card. 0I* memory cards are also compatible #ith @eo1/eo K* arcade cabinets.

Random"access memory
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (Redirected from RAM) Jump to: navigation, search "RAM" redirects here. For other uses of the word, see Ram (disambiguation).

Example of writable volatile random access memor!: "!nchronous #!namic RAM modules, primaril! used as main memor! in personal computers, wor$stations, and servers% Computer memory types Volatile

#RAM, e%g% ##R "#RAM "RAM &pcoming

o

' RAM

o o

( RAM ''RAM

)istorical
o o o

#ela! line memor! "electron tube *illiams tube Non-volatile

R+M
o o o

,R+M E,R+M EE,R+M

-lash memor! &pcoming

o o o o o o o o o

-eRAM MRAM ./RAM ,RAM "+0+" RRAM Racetrac$ memor! 0RAM Millipede

)istorical
o o o o o

#rum memor! Magnetic core memor! ,lated wire memor! /ubble memor! 'wistor memor!

Random"access memory %usually kno#n by its acronym, RAM) is a form of computer data storage. Today, it takes the form of integrated circuits that allo# stored data to be accessed in any order %i.e., at random). The #ord random thus refers to the fact that any piece of data can be returned in a constant time, regardless of its physical location and #hether or not it is related to the previous piece of data.;,<

(y contrast, storage devices such as magnetic discs and optical discs rely on the physical movement of the recording medium or a reading head. 3n these devices, the movement takes longer than data transfer, and the retrieval time varies based on the physical location of the neEt item. The #ord B0 is often associated #ith volatile types of memory %such as +B0 memory modules), #here the information is lost after the po#er is s#itched off. any other types of memory are B0 , too, including most types of B6 and a type of flash memory called N !"#las$.

Contents
1hide2

3 )istor! 4 +verview
o o

4%3 '!pes of RAM 4%4 Memor! hierarch!

4%4%3 "wapping

4%5 +ther uses of the 6RAM6 term

4%5%3 RAM dis$s 4%5%4 "hadow RAM

5 Recent developments 7 Memor! wall 8 "ecurit! concerns 9 "ee also : 0otes and references ; External lin$s

[edit] #istory
0n early type of #idespread %ritable random1access memory #as the magnetic core memory, developed from ,4=4 to ,48', and subsePuently used in most computers up until the development of the static and dynamic integrated B0 circuits in the late ,4>.s and early ,4A.s. (efore this, computers used relays, delay line memory, or various kinds of vacuum tube arrangements to implement 7main7 memory functions %i.e., hundreds or thousands of bits)" some of #hich #ere random access, some not. Natches built out of vacuum tube triodes, and later, out of discrete transistors, #ere used for smaller and faster memories such as random1access register banks and registers. Prior to the development of integrated B6 circuits, permanent %or read"only) random1access memory #as often constructed using semiconductor diode matrices driven by address decoders.

[edit] Overview
[edit] $ypes of RAM

'op < R, ##R4 with heat spreader, ##R4 without heat spreader, <aptop ##R4, ##R, <aptop ##R

3 Megabit chip one of the last models developed b! =E/ .arl (eiss Jena in 3>;>

odern types of %ritable B0 generally store a bit of data in either the state of a flip1flop, as in *B0 %static B0 ), or as a charge in a capacitor %or transistor gate), as in +B0 %dynamic B0 ), IPB6 , IIPB6 and Flash. *ome types have circuitry to detect and5or correct random faults called memory errors in the stored data, using parity bits or error correction codes. B0 of the read"only type, B6 , instead uses a metal mask to permanently enable5disable selected transistors, instead of storing a charge in them. 0s both *B0 and +B0 are &olatile, other forms of computer storage, such as disks and magnetic tapes, have been used as persistent storage in traditional computers. any ne#er products instead rely on flash memory to maintain data #hen not in use, such as P+0s or small music players. $ertain personal computers, such as many rugged computers and netbooks, have also replaced magnetic disks #ith flash drives. With flash memory, only the @6B type is capable of true random access, allo#ing direct code eEecution, and is therefore often used instead of B6 " the lo#er cost @0@+ type is commonly used for bulk storage in memory cards and solid1state drives. *imilar to a microprocessor, a memory chip is an integrated circuit %3$) made of millions of transistors and capacitors. 3n the most common form of computer memory, dynamic random access memory %+B0 ), a transistor and a capacitor are paired to create a memory cell, #hich represents a single bit of data. The capacitor holds the bit of informationQa . or a , . The transistor acts as a s#itch that lets the control circuitry on the memory chip read the capacitor or change its state.

[edit] Memory hierarchy

any computer systems have a memory hierarchy consisting of $PU registers, on1die *B0 caches, eEternal caches, +B0 , paging systems, and virtual memory or s#ap space on a hard drive. This entire pool of memory may be referred to as 7B0 7 by many developers, even though the various subsystems can have very different access times, violating the original concept behind the random access term in B0 . Iven #ithin a hierarchy level such as +B0 , the specific ro#, column, bank, rank, channel, or interleave organi!ation of the components make the access time variable, although not to the eEtent that rotating storage media or a tape is variable. The overall goal of using a memory hierarchy is to obtain the higher possible average access performance #hile minimi!ing the total cost of the entire memory system. %/enerally, the memory hierarchy follo#s the access time #ith the fast $PU registers at the top and the slo# hard drive at the bottom.)

3n many modern personal computers, the B0 comes in an easily upgraded form of modules called memory mod les or DRAM mod les about the si!e of a fe# sticks of che#ing gum. These can Puickly be replaced should they become damaged or too small for current purposes. 0s suggested above, smaller amounts of B0 %mostly *B0 ) are also integrated in the $PU and other 3$s on the motherboard, as #ell as in hard1drives, $+1B6 s, and several other parts of the computer system.

[edit] Swapping
3f a computer becomes lo# on B0 during intensive application cycles, many $PU architectures and operating systems are able to perform an operation kno#n as 7s#apping7. *#apping uses a paging file, an area on a hard drive temporarily used as additional #orking memory. $onstant use of this mechanism is called thrashing and is generally undesirable because it lo#ers overall system performance, mainly because hard drives are slo#er than B0 . 6n some operating systems %such as NinuE) it is possible to turn s#apping off such that no memory is #ritten to the hard disk %7s#apoff 1a7 as superuser on startup). This can reduce latency as #ell as hard disk #ear, but if one does not have enough B0 then the 6* #ill free!e and perhaps kernel panic.;citation needed<

[edit] Other ses of the %RAM% term

6ther physical devices #ith readR#rite capability can have 7B0 7 in their names: for eEample, +K+1 B0 . 7Bandom access7 is also the name of an indeEing method: hence, disk storage is often called 7random access7% Wiki:Po#er6fPlainTeEt, Fortran language featuresS+irect1access files, (0*3$SFiles and input5output, Java Platform, *tandard IditionSBandom access, indeEed file ) because the reading head can move relatively Puickly from one piece of data to another, and does not have to read all the data in bet#een. Co#ever the final 7 7 is crucial: 7B0 7 %provided there is no additional term as in 7+K+1B0 7) al#ays refers to a solid1state device. 6ften, B0 is a shorthand in on1line conversations for referring to the computer:s main #orking memory.

[edit] RAM disks

*oft#are can 7partition7 a portion of a computer:s B0 , allo#ing it to act as a much faster hard drive that is called a B0 disk. Unless the memory used is non1volatile, a B0 disk loses the stored data #hen the computer is shut do#n. Co#ever, volatile memory can retain its data #hen the computer is shut do#n if it has a separate po#er source, usually a battery.

[edit] Shadow RAM

*ometimes, the contents of a B6 chip are copied to *B0 or +B0 to allo# for shorter access times %as B6 may be slo#er). The B6 chip is then disabled #hile the initiali!ed memory locations are s#itched in on the same block of addresses %often #rite1protected). This process, sometimes called s$ado%ing, is fairly common in both computers and embedded systems. 0s a common eEample, the (36* in typical personal computers often has an option called Tuse shado# (36*U or similar. When enabled, functions relying on data from the (36*Vs B6 #ill instead use +B0 locations %most can also toggle shado#ing of video card B6 or other B6 sections). +epending on the system, this may or may not result in increased performance. 6n some systems the benefit may be hypothetical because the (36* is not used after booting in favor of direct hard#are access. 6f course, some#hat less free memory is available #hen shado#ing is enabled.;'<

[edit] Recent developments

*everal ne# types of non"&olatile B0 , #hich #ill preserve data #hile po#ered do#n, are under development. The technologies used include ryan carbon nanotubes and approaches utili!ing the magnetic tunnel effect. 0mongst the ,st generation B0 , a ,'- Oi( %,'- ? ',. bytes) magnetic B0 % B0 ) chip #as manufactured #ith ..,- Fm technology in the summer of '..&. 3n June '..=, 3nfineon Technologies unveiled a ,> i( %,> ? ''. bytes) prototype again based on ..,- Fm technology. There are t#o 'nd generation techniPues currently in development: Thermal 0ssisted *#itching %T0*);&< #hich is being developed by $rocus Technology, and *pin TorPue Transfer %*TT) on #hich $rocus, CyniE, 3( , and several other companies are #orking;=<. @antero built a functioning carbon nanotube memory prototype ,. /i( %,. ? '&. bytes) array in '..=. Whether some of these technologies #ill be able to eventually take a significant market share from either +B0 , *B0 , or flash1memory technology, ho#ever, remains to be seen. *ince '..>, 7*olid1state drives7 %based on flash memory) #ith capacities eEceeding >= gigabytes and performance far eEceeding traditional disks have become available. This development has started to blur the definition bet#een traditional random access memory and 7disks7, dramatically reducing the difference in performance. 0lso in development is research being done in the field of plastic magnets, #hich s#itch magnetic polarities based on light.;citation needed< *ome kinds of random1access memory, such as 7IcoB0 7, are specifically designed for server farms, #here lo# po#er consumption is more important than speed. ;8<

[edit] Memory wall

The 7memory #all7 is the gro#ing disparity of speed bet#een $PU and memory outside the $PU chip. 0n important reason for this disparity is the limited communication band#idth beyond chip boundaries. From ,4-> to '..., $PU speed improved at an annual rate of 889 #hile memory speed only improved at ,.9. /iven these trends, it #as eEpected that memory latency #ould become an over#helming bottleneck in computer performance. ;>< $urrently, $PU speed improvements have slo#ed significantly partly due to ma2or physical barriers and partly because current $PU designs have already hit the memory #all in some sense. 3ntel summari!ed these causes in their Platform '.,8 documentation %P+F)
TFirst of all, as chip geometries shrink and clock frePuencies rise, the transistor leakage current increases, leading to eEcess po#er consumption and heat... *econdly, the advantages of higher clock speeds are in part negated by memory latency, since memory access times have not been able to keep pace #ith increasing clock frePuencies. Third, for certain applications, traditional serial architectures are becoming less efficient as processors get faster %due to the so1 called Kon @eumann bottleneck), further undercutting any gains that frePuency increases might other#ise buy. 3n addition, partly due to limitations in the means of producing inductance #ithin solid state devices, resistance1 capacitance %B$) delays in signal transmission are gro#ing as feature si!es shrink, imposing an additional bottleneck that frePuency increases don:t address.U

The B$ delays in signal transmission #ere also noted in $lock Bate versus 3P$: The Ind of the Boad for $onventional icroarchitectures #hich pro2ects a maEimum of ,'.89 average annual $PU performance improvement bet#een '... and '.,=. The data on 3ntel Processors clearly sho#s a slo#do#n in performance improvements in recent processors. Co#ever, 3ntel:s ne# processors, $ore ' +uo %codenamed $onroe) sho# a significant improvement over previous Pentium = processors" due to a more efficient architecture, performance increased #hile clock rate actually decreased.

[edit] &ec rity concerns

$ontrary to simple models %and perhaps common belief), the contents of modern *+B0 modules are not lost immediately #hen the computer is shut do#n" instead, the contents fade a#ay, a process that takes only

seconds at room temperatures, but #hich can be eEtended to minutes at lo# temperatures. 3t is therefore possible to recover an encryption key stored in ordinary #orking memory %i.e. the *+B0 modules).;A< This is sometimes referred to as a cold boot attack, aka ice1man attack.

[edit] &ee also

*i$imedia .ommons has media related to: RAM

.A" latenc! (.<) #ual channel architecture E.. (Error correcting code) Registered?buffered memor! RAM parit!