1.2 Memory and Storage Flashcards
Primary and Secondary storage (positives and negatives) (44 cards)
What is Primary Storage?
Primary memory is built inside the computer and as a result data can be read to and written from very quickly
Why is Primary Storage needed?
Primary storage is needed in a computer because the primary storage is a lot closer than the secondary storage to the CPU therefore it can access data quicker
What are 3 examples of Primary Storage?
RAM, ROM and Cache
What does Volatile mean?
If a storage media is Volatile, when the Computer loses power, everything inside of the storage will be gone
What are the two programs called that are stored in ROM?
BIOS (Basic Input Output System) and the Bootstrap
What does RAM hold?
RAM is used to hold data that is currently in use and is usually used to hold the operating system for any documents and programs that are running
What is Secondary Storage?
Secondary storage is external, long term memory that stores software on your computer even when it is turned off
Features of secondary storage
Can be changed (Read/Write), long term memory, external memory, non-volatile
Why is Secondary storage important?
Secondary storage is needed as it stores software on the computer when the computer is turned off meaning that when you turn your computer back on, you will still be able to access these programs.
What are the 3 types of Secondary storage?
Solid-state, Magnetic and Optical
What is Virtual memory?
Virtual memory is a technique where we use secondary storage as if it were RAM.
Name all the different measurements of storage in binary.
Bit, Nibble, Byte, Kilobyte, Megabyte, Gigabyte, Terabyte and Petabyte
What is the required capacity formula?
Required capacity=number of files × size of a single file
I need to download two videos, of average size 500 MB. What is the approximate total amount of data that I will download?
1000 MB or 1 GB
A home computer user’s solid state drive (SSD) has failed. They are trying to find out why this has happened, but the only thing that they have done differently recently is use virtual memory. Why has their SSD failed?
Solid state storage media has limited read/write cycles and using it as virtual memory broke this limit
Positive features of Solid-state storage.
Positives: small, lightweight, durable and fast access times (uses electricity to store data)
Negative features of Solid-state storage.
Negatives: expensive and has limited Read/Write cycles, will wear down after getting plugged in and out all the time
Positive features of Optical storage.
Positives: It is cheap, it is light weight, and it is portable
Negative features of Optical storage.
Negatives: It has slow access times to the data because the scanners can be slow, and it is prone to scratches which can lead to the data on the discs unreadable
Positive features of Magnetic storage.
Positives: It is relatively cheap, and it has a large storage capacity
Negative features of Magnetic storage.
Negatives: It is fragile since the drive head can break very easily and if it breaks then the storage is lost and has slow access time
How does Solid-state storage store data?
It uses electrical conductors to represent 0s and 1s in binary and because it uses electricity, this makes it have the fastest access times because computers also use electricity to store data
How does Optical storage store data?
It uses Pits and Lands on the disc that have been etched in by a laser to represent the 0s and 1s in binary and uses a scanner to read the data on it
How does Magnetic storage store data?
It uses positively and negatively charged magnetic particles to represent the 0s and 1s of binary and a drive head to read the data held on it
