Memory Hierarchies: Introduction and Technological Constraints

This lecture covers the technologies of data storage, the concept of memory hierarchies, and the impact of loop order in programming on performance. It discusses the important characteristics of each technology, including performance metrics like latency, throughput, capacity, cost, and retention. The lecture also explores different memory storage technologies such as registers, caches, primary memory, hard disk arrays, SSDs, and magnetic tape robots, along with their capacities and latencies. It compares the key features of processors, RAM, flash memory, disks, and magnetic tapes in terms of latency, throughput, cost, capacity, and retention. The challenges related to memory capacity, speed, and cost are addressed, highlighting the trade-offs between different storage options.