The main difference between physical and virtual memory is that the physical memory refers to the actual system RAM connected to the motherboard, but virtual memory is a memory management technique that allows users to run larger programs. than actual physical memory. What’s difference btw physical and virtual memory?
Memory management is an important operation in an operating system. It allows processes to move back and forth between main memory and the hard drive during program execution time. Also, this process keeps track of each memory location to allocate processes and free memory. Physical memory is the main memory that holds currently running programs. On the other hand, virtual memory extends the capacity of main memory to run large programs using the hard drive.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is physical memory
– Definition, Functionality
2. What is virtual memory?
– Definition, Functionality
3. What is the difference between physical and virtual memory?
– Comparison of key differences
What is physical memory
Physical memory refers to the RAM or primary memory in the computer. Physical memory is volatile memory. Therefore, it requires a continuous flow of energy to retain data. However, power failures and interruptions can erase data in physical memory. Furthermore, this memory is linearly addressable. In other words, memory addresses increase linearly.
The CPU can directly access physical memory. Contains programs in the execution lineup. Usually the hard drive stores the programs. It requires more time for the CPU to access the hard drive always to run programs. Therefore, those programs are placed in physical memory first so that the CPU can execute them faster. It takes less time to access data from physical memory than data from the hard drive. After completion of execution, the programs return to the hard drive. Similarly, free memory can be allocated to a new program. When executing these programs, they are called processes.
What is virtual memory?
Virtual memory is logical memory. In other words, it is a memory management technique performed by the operating system. Virtual memory allows the programmer to use more memory for programs than the available physical memory. If the physical memory is 4 GB and the virtual memory is 16 GB, the programmer can use the 16 GB virtual memory to run the program. Using virtual memory, you can run complex programs that require more memory than physical memory.
Also, virtual memory extends the use of physical memory by using the hard drive. It also prevents direct access to main memory. Also, when accessing virtual memory, virtual memory addresses are converted to the corresponding physical address. Thus, virtual memory ensures memory protection.
Difference Between Physical and Virtual Memory
Definition
Physical memory, which is actual RAM, is a form of computer data storage that stores currently running programs. In contrast, virtual memory is a memory management technique that creates an illusion for users of larger physical memory. Thus, this is the main difference between physical and virtual memory.
memory type What’s difference btw physical and virtual memory?
While physical memory is real memory, virtual memory is logical memory.
Speed
Speed is another difference between physical and virtual memory. Physical memory is faster than virtual memory.
Technique
Another difference between physical and virtual memory is that physical memory uses swapping technique while virtual memory uses paging.
size
Physical memory is limited to the size of the RAM chip; however, virtual memory is limited by the size of the hard drive.
CPU
Physical memory can directly access the CPU, while virtual memory cannot directly access the CPU. Hence, this is another difference between physical and virtual memory.
conclusion
The main difference between physical and virtual memory is that physical memory refers to the actual system RAM that stores currently running programs, but virtual memory is a memory management technique that allows users to run programs larger than actual physical memory.