RAM and Memory

Question 1

What is RAM?

Answer 1

It is high speed, volatile memory and stands for random access memory

Question 2

What’s RAMs job?

Answer 2

It is the main memory in the computer it can be read and written to, it is where data, files and programs are stored while they are in use. They stay there until they are not being used

Question 3

Why don’t we use secondary storage like a HDD instead of RAM?

Answer 3

Because RAM is way faster than a HDD, and while it’s slower than CPU cache it can hold way more data

Question 4

What does volatile memory mean?

Answer 4

It means it’s temporary memory. It require power for it to retain its memory

Question 5

What happens when the RAM is full?

Answer 5

The data is moved to secondary storage if it hasn’t been used recently, aka virtual memory acts as a ram over flow of sorts

Question 6

Why would we need virtual memory?

Answer 6

It could be needed if there are too many applications open at once or if a particularly memory intensive application is being used (or both)

Question 7

What drawbacks are there of using virtual memory?

Answer 7

Can make a computer feel slow to respond when switching between applications. Due to memory swapping from one store to another. Or constant switching If the application is too memory intensive

Question 8

What is ROM?

Answer 8

It tells the CPU how to boot up contains all the instructions for the boot up (called a BIOS), ROM can be updated or changed via a flash

Question 9

What is ROM?

Answer 9

It is non-volatile memory and it can only be read, comes in a small chip built into the motherboard. The CPU checks the ROM straight away, tells it to perform self checks and set up the computer ( tests hardware is all working okay)

Question 10

What type of memory does ROM use

Answer 10

Flash memory which is also used in SD cards, USB sticks and SSDs