Primary storage Flashcards
What does primary storage do?
Temporarily holds applications and data currently in use.
Types of primary storage?(5)
Random Access Memory (RAM)
Read Only Memory (ROM)
Flash memory
Cache memory
Virtual memory
What is RAM used for
What is ROM used for ?
RAM-Used to store the currently used data and instructions
ROM-Used to store instructions that don’t need to be changed in normal use
Is RAM volatile?
Volatile - data & instructions are lost when turned off
What can data in RAM do? (Read/written)
Data can be read from and written to
RAM memory locations?
Consists of uniquely identifiable memory locations.
Can it be upgraded?
It can be upgraded
Is ROM volatile?
Non-volatile - data & instructions are not lost when turned off.
What can data do in ROM? (Read/Written)
Data can only be read from.
Can memory locations in ROM be changed?
Memory locations cannot be changed
What is ROM used for?
Used for the permanent storage of data and instructions, like the boot strap instructions
Where is the virtual memory and what is its purpose?
Virtual memory is an area of the hard disk drive or solid state drive used as temporary RAM when the actual RAM is full.
What happens to the least recently used stored data in virt mem?
Usually the least recently used stored data is swapped out, it is swapped back in at the expense of other data
What happens to then need for virtual memory if there is more RAM?
The more RAM a computer has, the less virtual memory is needed.
What happens to the performance of a computer if RAM increases?
Adding more RAM will significantly improve the performance of a computer
Is virtual memory slower or faster than RAM and why?
Much slower than actual RAM due to the read/write speeds of the hard disc.
What happens if the OS continually swaps between RAM and hard drive?
If the OS continually swaps between RAM and the hard drive, programs will run more slowly, known as disc thrashing
What is Cache memory used for?
Used for the temporary storage of frequently accessed data and instructions.
Is Cache memory volatile?
Volatile - data & instructions are lost when turned off
What can data do on cache memory? (Read/written)
Data can be read from and written to.
Is it more expensive or cheaper than RAM?
Expensive but quicker than RAM.
What is flash memory used for?
Used for the permanent storage of data, similar to ROM but can be read to.
Is flash memory volatile?
Non-volatile - data & instructions are not lost when turned off.
What can data do on flash memory? (Read/Written)
Data can only be read from and written to.
