Memory, Storage Devices and Media Flashcards
List the three types of storages
1) Primary
2) Secondary
3) Off-line
RAM - stand for?
Random access memory
ROM - stand for?
Read only memory
Embedded computer
A computer that is build into a device and performs one or more specialised tasks
General purpose computer
A computer used for many different purposes
RAM
Primary storage that holds data to be processed and programs which are currently in use
Volatile
Data is erased when the computer turns off
ROM
A primary storage device, which can be read from but not written to. Holds the firmware or the bootstrap information
Firmware
ROM that hold programs that run on an embedded computer
Bootstrap
ROM that contains start-up instructions for the computer
EPROM - stand for?
Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory
EPROM
ROM that can be erased and re-written
Flashing
The process of erasing and re-writting data to ROM
Which type of memory is volatile?
RAM
Which memory has a bigger storage space on PC?
Secondary
What is secondary storage used for?
Store programs and data for future use
Primary/Secondary - directly accessible by the processor
Primary storage
Primary/Secondary - Permanently stores data until erased
Secondary storage
Primary/Secondary - Slower to read/write data needs to be transferred to RAM first
Secondary storage
Primary/Secondary - Normally a few gigabytes in capacity
Primary storage
Primary/Secondary - Some devices are removable
Secondary storage
List 3 types of secondary storage
1) Magnetic tape
2) Optical storage
3) Solid state storage
Magnetic tape
Stores data by using electromagnetic and magnetic fields to control tiny magnetic dots of data represented in binary
What are magnetic tapes used for?
Archiving
Describe the cost and the capacity of magnetic tape compared HDD
Greater storage capacity, low cost per GB
How is the tape read/written? What does that mean?
Sequently, read/written from the beginning to the end, very slow process
What is the limit of magnetic tape?
185 terabytes
Pit
An indication on the surface of an optical disk, used to represent data
Land
The raised surface between the pits on an optical disk
Compact disk (CD)
An early, but still used optical medium
Digital Versatile disk (DVD)
A later, higher capacity optical medium
Blu-ray disk
A modern, extremely high capacity optical medium
How much data can CDs hold?
700 MB
How much data can DVDs hold?
4.7 GB
How much data can Blu-rays hold?
25 GB
Name the extension for a read only disk
t (CD-ROM)
Name the extension for a write once disk
-R (CD-R)
Name the extension for a rewritable disk
-RW (CD-RW)
How is the data from the disk read?
By a tiny laser shining at the surface of the disk detecting tiny changes in reflection
What are the disks made out of?
Aluminium
List the different storage types from Slowest to Fastest (5)
Optical disk - Memory Card - Magnetic Tape - HDD - SSD
List the different storage types from Cheapest to Priciest (5)
Magnetic Tape - Optical disc - HDD - Memory card - SSD
List the different storage types from lowest average capacity to highest average capacity
Optical Disk - Memory cards - SSD - HDD - Magnetic Tape
