1.2.1 - Primary Storage

Question 1

What is primary storage?

Answer 1

Small capacity, quickly accessed storage that holds the data needed while a computer is running

Question 2

What does ROM stand for?

Answer 2

Read only memory

Question 3

What is ROM and what does it store?

Answer 3

ROM is memory that can be read from but not written to (read only)

Stores data and instructions programmed by the manufacturer. This includes the bootstrap which loads the operating system into RAM

Question 4

Is ROM volatile or non volatile

Answer 4

Non volatile

Question 5

What does RAM stand for

Answer 5

Random access memory

Question 6

What does RAM store?

Answer 6

RAM is used to hold data and instructions that are currently in use. Can hold operating systems

Question 7

Can the data in RAM be overwritten?

Answer 7

Yes, the contents can be changed if a document is closed and another is opened

Question 8

Is RAM volatile or non volatile

Answer 8

Volatile

Question 9

What is the definition of volatile and non volatile

Answer 9

Volatile = data isn’t retained after the power for the computer is turned off
Non volatile = computer keeps data after being switched off

Question 10

What is virtual memory

Answer 10

Virtual memory is the use of secondary storage as additional primary memory (RAM)

Question 11

When is virtual memory needed?

Answer 11

When RAM is nearly full and can’t hold all of the running instructions

Question 12

How does virtual memory work?

Answer 12

Through the process of swapping. Not currently used data in RAM is held in virtual memory.

When it is needed again, data in RAM that isn’t currently used is swapped out before the original data goes into RAM.

Question 13

What is the problem when it comes to virtual memory

Answer 13

Using virtual memory slows the computers speed