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armcpu-architecturemicroprocessors
astiara
astiara

Reputation: 101

Memory space of ARM microprocessors

In ARM microprocessors, is the only available memory space the 37 or so general and status registers, or is there a separate accessible memory space within the microprocessor chip?

For example, in the Atmel AVR microcontroller, to my understanding, the memory is mapped internally within the same chip, with data memory, program memory (containing program memory) and EEPROM memory. Does the same apply to ARM microprocessors, or does a microcontroller with an ARM microprocessor require separate external memory?

Upvotes: 0

Views: 1894

Answers (2)

class stacker
class stacker

Reputation: 5347

Your interpretation of the Atmel AVR architecture is not quite correct.

Of course it's possible to integrate memory of virtually any kind on the same die as the CPU core. However, that doesn't mean you can compare flash memory available on one such integrated system to registers on another.

A CPU core needs a memory interface and that's all that counts: Flash is slower than registers. So if you connect Flash to an ARM processor it will behave similar (in the same order of magniture regarding speed) as the on-board Flash of the AVR.

Besides, ARM is solely an IP (design concept) and licenced by numerous companies which build efficient peripherals and sometimes also memory around the core. So you will find chips with an ARM core and on-board memory on the market.

(I simplified things a bit in the above description but I was focusing on trying to point out where I think you misunderstand how the two processors compare.)

Upvotes: 1

Pavan G jakati
Pavan G jakati

Reputation: 113

Below link talks a lot about how memory management is done in ARM processor. Hope it helps

http://infocenter.arm.com/help/index.jsp?topic=/com.arm.doc.dui0471c/CHDDJIFI.html

Upvotes: 0

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