Register vs Cache vs Memory – Difference and Comparison

What is Register?

A processor register in the CPU is a small data holding place that is part of a computer processor. Instructions, storage addresses, or other data are temporarily stored by a processor’s register (such as bit sequence or individual characters).

You may call it a storage space for units of memory that are used to transfer data for instant use by the CPU for data processing. It is also called a memory register, part of a computer processor.

However, the register is used to acknowledge, store, and move information and directions, which are used quickly by the CPU in computer organizations.

Different kinds of registers are used for various purposes. AC (Accumulator register) and DR (Data register) are used. Registers are measured by the bits they hold, e.g., 8 bits, 32 bits, and 64 bits.

The processor register provides the fastest way for data access and is at the top of a memory hierarchy.

What is Cache?

The cache is the temporary data storage memory. The cache storage location is reserved and can store specific kinds of files that help websites, software, and browsers run faster.

The cache is a hardware or software constituent that holds data to serve future requests for that data immediately and more quickly in computing. The stored data might result from stored data elsewhere or earlier computation.

When the request found for data storage in the cache is called a cache hit, when it cannot find it, a cache miss occurs.

The more requests that can be fulfilled from the cache, the faster the system works since cache hits are fulfilled by reading data from the cache. This is faster than calculating and comparing results or reading from a slower data storage.

There are several caches in your computer memory: primary L1, secondary L2, main L3, and other types.

What is Memory?

In computing, memory is a system or device that stores information for immediate use in computers and digital devices. Memory is the primary storage of data.

Memory refers to short-term data location, while storage cites long-term data storage. Memory refers to primary data storage on computers, such as RAM. Memory is the place where information is processed.

It can help users to access the stored data for a short time. The memory of computers operates at high speed compared to storage which is slower but less expensive and higher in capacity.

There are two main kinds of memory: primary memory (ROM and RAM) and secondary or storage memory ( Hard Drive and CD). Ram is the primary volatile memory, while om is the primary non-volatile memory.

Difference Between Register and Cache and Memory

A processor register in the CPU is a small data holding place that is part of a computer processor.

However, The cache is the temporary data storage memory. The cache storage location is reserved and can store specific kinds of files that help websites, software, and browsers run faster.

Compared to the cache, memory is a system or device that stores information for immediate use in computers and digital devices.

Comparison Table Between Register and Cache and Memory

References

1. ^“What is a processor register?”. Educative: Interactive Courses for Software Developers. Retrieved 2022-08-12.
2. ^ “A Survey of Techniques for Designing and Managing CPU Register File.”