Based on a specific definition often used in digital systems, 2K memory refers to a memory capacity of 2048 words.
Understanding 2K Memory
The term "2K" in this context doesn't mean exactly 2000. In computing and digital electronics, 'K' often represents 2^10, which equals 1024. Therefore, 2K is calculated as:
2 * 1024 = 2048
So, a 2K memory signifies a memory size of 2048 units of storage. These units are referred to as words.
Key Characteristics from the Definition
According to the provided definition, a 2K memory has the following characteristics:
- Total Capacity: 2048 words.
- Word Size: Each word contains 4 bits of data.
- Addressing: To access each of the 2048 distinct word locations, a unique address is needed. The number of bits required for addressing 2048 locations is determined by the power of 2 that equals or exceeds 2048. Since 211 = 2048, you need 11 bits to represent each address. This means the memory requires 11 address lines.
Practical Implications
The structure of a 2K memory (2048 x 4 bits) has practical implications:
- Storage: It can store a total of 2048 * 4 bits = 8192 bits of data.
- Access: Data is read from or written to the memory one word (4 bits) at a time using the 11 address lines to select the specific word location.
This type of memory organization was common in early microprocessors and memory chips where memory was organized into relatively small words (like 4 bits or 8 bits).
