memory and storage

Question 1

what is an example of primary storage

Answer 1

RAM/ROM

Question 2

what is a characteristic of memory

Answer 2

volatile

Question 3

what is a characteristic of storage

Answer 3

non-volatile

Question 4

what does volatile mean

Answer 4

if something is volatile it loses all its data when it is switched off

Question 5

how does a computer access data from secondary storage

Answer 5

secondary storage-primary storage-CPU

Question 6

can the CPU directly access RAM

Answer 6

yes

Question 7

what does RAM hold

Answer 7

data and instructions currently in use by the processor

Question 8

what is the typical size of RAM

Answer 8

4-32GB

Question 9

is RAM volatile

Answer 9

yes

Question 10

what are the 2 types of RAM

Answer 10

SRAM and DRAM

Question 11

is ROM volatile

Answer 11

no

Question 12

why is ROM used

Answer 12

some programs and data need to be permanently stored in memory

Question 13

how big are instructions on ROM chips

Answer 13

4-8MB

Question 14

can you read and write to a ROM chip

Answer 14

no you can only read

Question 15

what does ROM store

Answer 15

bootstrap loader

Question 16

what does bootstrap loader do(2)

Answer 16

runs when computer turns on and it contains instructions to find and run the operating system

Question 17

what is BIOS(2)

Answer 17

allows computer to run without secondary storage and allows control over basic technical configuration

Question 18

what does EEPROM stand for

Answer 18

electrically erasable programmable read only memory

Question 19

what can EEPROM do

Answer 19

data can be erased and replaced electronically

Question 20

what are instructions on ROM called

Answer 20

firmware

Question 21

when does virtual memory occur

Answer 21

when we run out of RAM

Question 22

what is virtual memory used for

Answer 22

store extra programs not being used

Question 23

where is virtual memory held

Answer 23

hard disk/secondary storage

Question 24

what is an advantage of virtual memory

Answer 24

allows and increase to the amount of memory available for applications when RAM is full

Question 25

what is a disadvantage of virtual memory(2)

Answer 25

swapping takes time, secondary storage access speed slower then RAM

Question 26

what are the 3 types of secondary storage

Answer 26

flash memory, magnetic memory, optical memory

Question 27

what is an example of flash memory

Answer 27

SD card

Question 28

what is an example of magnetic memory

Answer 28

floppy disk

Question 29

what is an example of optical memory

Answer 29

DVD

Question 30

how does magnetic memory work

Answer 30

a disk contains tracks and sectors and disk heads mounted on mechanical arms read and write data

Question 31

what is an advantage of magnetic memory(2)

Answer 31

large storage capacity(1TB), fast response rate

Question 32

what is a disadvantage of magnetic memory(2)

Answer 32

not very durable, moving parts inside give a 4-5 year life span until it requires defragmentation

Question 33

how does optical storage work

Answer 33

data is stored in pits or lands burnt onto a special track and a laser goes over them and measures the level of reflection. from this 0s and 1s can be derived

Question 34

how does flash storage work

Answer 34

large charge is used to force electrons through a barrier and trap them on the other side

Question 34

what is an advantage of flash memory(5)

Answer 34

highly durable, no moving parts, very fast read and write times, silent, faster start up time, capacity(100GB-1TB)

Question 35

what is a disadvantage of flash memory(2)

Answer 35

more expensive, has a max number of rewrite times(10k-100k)

Question 35

what 6 factors effect choice

Answer 35

capacity, speed, portability, durability, reliability and cost

Question 36

what is capacity a measure of and what is it measured in

Answer 36

how much data is stored, TB/GB/MB

Question 37

what is speed a measure of and what is it measured in

Answer 37

rate at which devices can be read and written to, MB/s

Question 38

what is portability a measure of and what is it measured in

Answer 38

how easy is it to carry, Kg

Question 38

what is durability a measure of and what is it measured in

Answer 38

will it break easily, temperature, magnetic forces

Question 39

what is reliability a measure of and what is it measured in

Answer 39

how likely is the data to be lost, amount of rewrites

Question 40

what is cost a measure of and what is it measured in

Answer 40

how much money per bit of data, £ per bit