Memory Types Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 2 types of memory?

A

Main Memory
Secondary Storage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is Main Memory?

A

Is any memory that is directly accessed by the CPU

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Give 2 example of Main Memory

A

Random Access Memory (RAM)
ROM chips

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is Secondary Storage used for?

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Give 2 examples of Secondary Storage

A

Hard Disks
Flash Memory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What happens to Volatile Memory when power is switched off?

A

It is cleared whenever the supply of power is lost

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

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

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Is Main Memory Volatile or Non-Volatile?

A

Volatile (Except ROM chips)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Is Secondary Storage Volatile or Non-Volatile?

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Give some examples of Volatile Memory

A

RAM
Cache
CPU Registers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What does RAM store?

A

Temporarily stores program instructions and data

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What 2 types of RAM are there?

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Why is DRAM often used for Main Memory?

A

Because it’s relatively inexpensive

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Why is SRAM often used for cache?

A

Because it is much faster to access than DRAM

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

State 5 things about DRAM

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

State 5 things about SRAM

A

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

17
Q

Why does DRAM continuously need a ‘refresh signal’?

A

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

18
Q

How many bytes are in 1KB

A

1024

19
Q

What does ROM stand for?

A

Read Only Memory

20
Q

Why is ROM a type of Main Memory?

A

Because it is directly accessed by the CPU

21
Q

What is a key difference between ROM and RAM?

A

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

22
Q

Is ROM Volatile or Non-Volatile?

A

Non-Volatile

23
Q

What is ROM used to store?

A

Basic computer hardware settings

24
Q

Is Virtual Memory Volatile or Non-Volatile?

A

Volatile

25
Q

What is Disk Thrashing?

A

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