Review: Computer Memory

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2n-1

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0

00110110

00001100

Byte

Address

Data

• Memory is a large linear array of bytes.

  • Each byte has a unique address (location).
  • Byte of data at address 0x100, and 0x101

• Most computers support byte (8-bit) addressing.

• Data may have to be aligned on word (4 byte) or double word (8 byte) boundary.

  • int is 4 bytes
  • double precision floating point is 8 bytes

• 32-bit v.s. 64-bit addresses

  • we will assume 32-bit for rest of course, unless otherwise stated

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2n-1

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0

2n-1-4

Word

Address

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