1.1.3 Input, output and storage

Question 1

ram

Answer 1

• primary memory
• hold data/programs in use
• volatile => loses its contents when power is lost
• larger

Question 2

rom

Answer 2

• read-only => cannot be written to/altered/changed
• non-volatile
• smaller
• quick to start up

Question 3

magnetic storage

Answer 3

• patterns of magnetisation are used to represent binary sequences
• low cost
• moving parts => more power => unportable as sudden movements cause it to malfunction

Question 4

optical storage

Answer 4

• uses laser => pits/lands represent 1/0
• cheap to distribute
• fairly resilient

Question 5

flash storage

Answer 5

• expensive
• can be read from/written to at high speeds
• no moving parts => lower power consumption

Question 6

virtual storage

Answer 6

• stored elsewhere on a lan/remote location => storage added onto computer w/out physically installing new hardware
• automatically backed up, available anywhere
• computer needs to be connected to the network on which it resides