Memory Types

Question 1

What are the 2 types of memory?

Answer 1

Main Memory
Secondary Storage

Question 2

What is Main Memory?

Answer 2

Is any memory that is directly accessed by the CPU

Question 3

Give 2 example of Main Memory

Answer 3

Random Access Memory (RAM)
ROM chips

Question 4

What is Secondary Storage used for?

Answer 4

Is used for holding large amounts of data and programs long-term, but can only be accessed relatively slowly

Question 5

Give 2 examples of Secondary Storage

Answer 5

Hard Disks
Flash Memory

Question 6

What happens to Volatile Memory when power is switched off?

Answer 6

It is cleared whenever the supply of power is lost

Question 7

What happens to Non-Volatile Memory when power is switched off?

Answer 7

It will continue to hold anything it was storing even if it is not receiving any power

Question 8

Is Main Memory Volatile or Non-Volatile?

Answer 8

Volatile (Except ROM chips)

Question 9

Is Secondary Storage Volatile or Non-Volatile?

Answer 9

Non-Volatile, as the programs and data that are held there are meant to be kept long-term

Question 10

Give some examples of Volatile Memory

Answer 10

RAM
Cache
CPU Registers

Question 11

What does RAM store?

Answer 11

Temporarily stores program instructions and data

Question 12

What 2 types of RAM are there?

Answer 12

DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory)
SRAM (Static Random Access Memory)

Question 13

Why is DRAM often used for Main Memory?

Answer 13

Because it’s relatively inexpensive

Question 14

Why is SRAM often used for cache?

Answer 14

Because it is much faster to access than DRAM

Question 15

State 5 things about DRAM

Answer 15

Volatile Memory
Used in RAM modules
Less expensive than SRAM
Slower to access than SRAM
Requires a refresh signal to retain its data intact

Question 16

State 5 things about SRAM

Answer 16

Volatile Memory
Used in the cache
More expensive than DRAM
Faster to access than DRAM
No refresh signal needed

Question 17

Why does DRAM continuously need a ‘refresh signal’?

Answer 17

To keep its capacitors charged, otherwise it will lose the data it is holding

Question 18

How many bytes are in 1KB

Answer 18

1024

Question 19

What does ROM stand for?

Answer 19

Read Only Memory

Question 20

Why is ROM a type of Main Memory?

Answer 20

Because it is directly accessed by the CPU

Question 21

What is a key difference between ROM and RAM?

Answer 21

ROM is Read Only which means that it cannot be changed, overwritten or removed, whereas RAM is read/write memory which means that the contents can be altered

Question 22

Is ROM Volatile or Non-Volatile?

Answer 22

Non-Volatile

Question 23

What is ROM used to store?

Answer 23

Basic computer hardware settings

Question 24

Is Virtual Memory Volatile or Non-Volatile?

Answer 24

Volatile

Question 25

What is Disk Thrashing?

Answer 25

Is a problem that may occur when virtual memory is being used. As main memory fills up, then more and more pages need to be swapped in and out of virtual memory. This swapping leads to a very high rate of hard disk access leading to wear and tear on the disk and a slow-down in overall performance