Why are there no Flash BIOS on the Award or AMI site ?
PROM - (programmable read-only memory)
is a memory chip on which data can be written only once. Once a program has been written
onto a PROM, it remains there forever. Unlike main memory, PROMs retain their contents
when the computer is turned off.
The difference between a PROM and a ROM (read-only memory) is that a PROM is manufactured as blank memory, whereas a ROM is programmed during the manufacturing process. To write data onto a PROM chip, you need a
special device called a PROM programmer or PROM burner. The process of programming a PROM
is sometimes called burning the PROM.
EPROM - (erasable programmable read-only memory) is a special type of PROM that can be erased by exposing it to
ultraviolet light. Once it is erased, it can be reprogrammed. An EEPROM is similar to a
PROM, but requires only electricity to be erased.
EEPROM - (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory). Pronounced e-e-prom, an EEPROM is a special type of PROM
that can be erased by exposing it to an electrical charge. Like other types of PROM,
EEPROM retains its contents even when the power is turned off. Also like other types of
ROM, EEPROM is not as fast as RAM.
A special type of EEPROM, referred to as flash memory or flash
EEPROM, can be rewritten while it is in the computer rather than requiring a special
device called a PROM reader. This is what most of you will have.
This information comes from PCWebopedia.
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