Primary and Secondary Storage

Question 1

What does primary storage refer to?

Answer 1

It refers to internal computer memory that is accessed by the CPU

Question 2

3 Primary storage components?

Answer 2

• RAM (Random Access Memory)
• ROM (Read Only Memory
• Cache Memory

Question 3

What is RAM?

Answer 3

RAM (Random Access Memory) is volatile, fast-access memory that temporarily stores data currently in use

Question 4

What is ROM?

Answer 4

ROM (Read Only Memory) is non-volatile, read-only memory that contains permanent instructions used by the computer when it boots up.

Question 5

What is Cache?

Answer 5

Cache is volatile, very fast-access memory which stores frequently used instructions that is situated in or next to the CPU.

Question 6

What doe Secondary storage refer to?

Answer 6

It refers to memory that retains its contents when the computer is shut off. When you run a file, it is copied from secondary storage into primary storage and when you save a file, it is copied from primary storage to the secondary storage.

Question 7

3 differences between primary and secondary storage?

Answer 7

• Primary storage is directly accessed by CPU, whilst Secondary storage is not
• Primary storage is volatile, secondary storage is non-volatile
• Primary storage has a small capacity, Secondary storage has a large capacity

Question 8

3 types of secondary storage and explain?

Answer 8

• Magnetic
  Disk coated with magnetic material where different areas can be magnetized North or South to store binary digits 1 or 0
• Optical
  Different areas reflect or do not reflect laser light differently to store binary digits 1 or 0
• Solid State
  Semi-conductor material where different areas act as switched, open or closed, to store binary digits 1 or 0

Question 9

Which secondary storage components uses NAND gates?

Answer 9

• Flash
• SSD

Question 10

Advantages and Disadvantages of HDD (Magnetic)

Answer 10

PROS:
- Very fast to access

CONS:
- Moving parts mean they are more susceptible to failing due to physical shock
- Data can be wiped out by a magnet
- High power consumption

Question 11

3 examples of Optical storage?

Answer 11

• CD
• Blu-ray
• DVD

Question 12

Advantages and Disadvantages of Optical storage?

Answer 12

PROS:
- Portable
- Cheap to produce

CONS:
- Small memory capacity
- Slow data transfer

Question 13

How do you burn data to an optical disk?

Answer 13

The disk rotates while a laser beam burns indentations into the surface which are called pits. The space between the pits are called lands. The pits and lands represent binary values (1s and 0s)

Question 14

Advantages and Disadvantages of SSD

Answer 14

PROS:
- Less susceptible to physical shock
- No noise
- Higher capacity compared to same volume of HDD

CONS:
- Data can not be overwritten
- Limited amount of write operations

Question 15

Where is cloud memory stored?

Answer 15

It is stored in server farms and data warehouses

Question 16

Advantages and Disadvantages of Cloud Storage

Answer 16

PROS:
- Access data anywhere

CONS:
- No internet means no access
- More vulnerable to cybercrime
- Potentially expensive

Question 17

What is Virtual memory?

Answer 17

When RAM is full, there needs to be a way for CPU to activate instructions that are not currently available in RAM
To do this:
- An area of memory in secondary storage is found
- Inactive instructions in the RAM are moved to that area of memory in secondary storage
- Required instructions from secondary storage are copied into CPU
- CPU now has access to the instructions it needs
- Once the process is complete, instructions can now be moved back into RAM from secondary storage

Question 18

How does an SSD work in depth?

Answer 18

Flash memory uses floating gate to store electrons, allowing individual gates to have a value of 1 (No electrons) or 0 (Some electrons). Change in voltage applied to the gate allow electrons to pass through the isolation layer and into or out of the floating gate.