Which memory is fastest and located very close to the CPU?
Cache Memory
Computer memory is organised in a hierarchy based on speed and proximity to the CPU: registers → cache memory → RAM → secondary storage.
Cache Memory is a small, extremely fast memory that sits between the CPU and the main memory (RAM). It stores copies of frequently accessed data and instructions so the CPU does not have to fetch them from the slower RAM every time. Cache is physically integrated on or very close to the CPU chip (L1, L2, and L3 cache levels).
A Pen Drive (USB flash drive) is external secondary storage — much slower than cache or RAM and physically detached from the CPU.
A Hard Disk is also secondary storage; it is the slowest among the options listed and is not located close to the CPU.
A CD-ROM is optical secondary storage — even slower than a hard disk for random access and physically separate from the CPU.
Hence, the memory that is fastest and located very close to the CPU is Cache Memory.
Similar Questions
- Where is the cache memory located?
- Which of the following is an example of non-volatile memory?:
- Non-volatile memory is a type of computer memory that can retain stored information even when the computer is:
- Which of the following is a volatile memory?
- Which of the following is NOT a property of ROM (Read Only Memory)?
- 100 nibbles are equal to ______ bits.
- Which is the primary memory of a computer?
- 1 EB is equal to ________.
- How many megabytes are equal to 1 gigabyte?
- Which among the following is the largest unit of memory of a computer system?
Important Questions from Memory
Which among the following is incorrect about cache memory?
- _______viruses are embedded in a system's memory so it can be reactivated if the original virus is deleted.
Which among the following statements is incorrect about secondary memory?
- ______memory is sometimes used to increase the speed of processing by making current programs and data available to the CPU at a rapid rate.
Which among the following registers in Instruction Cycle holds the last instruction fetched?
