Conventional memory

Updated: 05/01/2023 by Computer Hope
conventional memory

Also called base memory, conventional memory is the first section of IBM-compatible memory (totaling 640 KB) used to load MS-DOS. In addition to DOS, conventional memory holds programs, routines, and system drivers.

To maintain consistency, computers developed after the 8088 continued to observe the 640 KB size for conventional memory. This type of memory is only accessible by MS-DOS without the aid of a memory manager.

Additional information about RAM (random-access memory), and other portions of memory, is available on our RAM diagram.

640 KB barrier, EMS, Memory terms