Memory and storage Flashcards
what are the 2 main tiers of storage
primary and secondary storage
what is the primary storage
storage that the computer can access very quickly but is mostly volatile
give 2 examples of primary storage
RAM
ROM
what is secondary storage
non-volatile storage where all the data is stored when not in use
give 3 examples of secondary storage
Magnetic hard drives
SSD
CD
what is RAM and what does it stand for
Random Access Memory - - is high-speed memory that is used to store programs and data when the computer is being used
what is ROM and what does it stand for
Read Only Memory - non-volatile memory that contains the instructions that a computer needs to boot up properly such as BIOS. it can be changed and only read from
what does BIOS stand for
Basic Input Output System
what are the 3 types of secondary storage
SSD
magnetic
Optical
what are 2 examples of magnetic storage
Magnetic hard drive
magnetic tape
how does a magnetic hard drive work
is made up of a large magnetic disk that can spin very quickly. a moving arm, that has access to all parts of the disk, can magnetise and demagnetize sections of the disk which can be read as zeroes and ones
how does an SSD work
uses electrical circuits to store data
what 3 advantages of magnetic storage
cheap
large capacity
Long read/write life
what are 3 disadvantages of magnetic storage
slower
less durable - has moving parts
not portable
what are 3 advantages of SSDs
fast
don’t need to be defragmented
durable
silent
portable
