All Exams Test series for 1 year @ ₹349 only
Question

Which of the following is the correct sequence of largest to smallest unit of Memory access time?
A. Millisecond
B. Picosecond
C. Nanosecond
D. Microsecond
E. Second
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

The correct answer is
E, A, D, C, B

Memory Access Time: Understanding Units

Memory access time refers to the duration it takes for a processor to read data from or write data to a memory location. This time is typically measured in very small units of time. Understanding the relative sizes of these units is crucial for comprehending memory performance.

Comparing Time Unit Magnitudes

Let's compare the given units of time to determine their order from largest to smallest:

  • Second (s): This is the base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI).
  • Millisecond (ms): A millisecond is one-thousandth of a second. Mathematically, $1 \text{ ms} = 10^{-3} \text{ s}$.
  • Microsecond ($\mu$s): A microsecond is one-millionth of a second. Mathematically, $1 \mu\text{s} = 10^{-6} \text{ s}$.
  • Nanosecond (ns): A nanosecond is one-billionth of a second. Mathematically, $1 \text{ ns} = 10^{-9} \text{ s}$.
  • Picosecond (ps): A picosecond is one-trillionth of a second. Mathematically, $1 \text{ ps} = 10^{-12} \text{ s}$.

Memory Unit Ordering: Largest to Smallest

Based on their values in seconds, we can order these units from the largest magnitude to the smallest:

Unit Name Abbreviation Value in Seconds Order (Largest to Smallest)
Second s $1 \text{ s}$ 1 (Largest)
Millisecond ms $10^{-3} \text{ s}$ 2
Microsecond $\mu$s $10^{-6} \text{ s}$ 3
Nanosecond ns $10^{-9} \text{ s}$ 4
Picosecond ps $10^{-12} \text{ s}$ 5 (Smallest)

Therefore, the correct sequence of memory access time units from largest to smallest is:

Second (E) > Millisecond (A) > Microsecond (D) > Nanosecond (C) > Picosecond (B)

This sequence corresponds to the order E, A, D, C, B.

Was this answer helpful?

Important Questions from Memory Hierarchy

  1. Suppose that the register A and register K have the bit configuration. Only the three leftmost bits of A are compared with memory words because K has 1's in these positions. Because of its organization, this type of memory is uniquely suited to parallel searches by data association. This type of memory is known as

  2. Consider a system with 2 level cache. Access times of Level 1, Level 2 cache and main memory are 0.5 ns, 5 ns and 100 ns respectively. The hit rates of Level 1 and Level 2 caches are 0.7 and 0.8 respectively. What is the average access time of the system ignoring the search time within cache?

  3. Related to computers, what is 'Wetware'?

  4. ____ number of lines are required to select __________ memory locations.

  5. Which of the following is correct sequence of increasing access time of storage/memory devices ?
    A. Magnetic tape
    B. RAM
    C. Cache memory
    D. Hard disk
    E. Registers
    Choose the correct answer from the options given below :
Need Expert Advice?

Start Your Preparation with Prepp Mobile App

Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Download the app from Google Play & App Store
Prepp Mobile App