Paper 1 : Memory and Storage

Question 1

What is main memory?

Answer 1

Any memory that is directly connected to the CPU. However, it usually refers to the RAM.

Question 2

What are the three types of main memory?

Answer 2

RAM, ROM and Cache.

Question 3

What is volatile memory?

Answer 3

Memory that loses all of it’s data when it loses power.

Question 4

What is non-volatile memory?

Answer 4

Memory that retains all if it’s data even if it loses power.

Question 5

What does RAM stand for?

Answer 5

Random Access Memory

Question 6

What does the RAM do?

Answer 6

It stores currently open programs and OS data from secondary storage so that the CPU can access it directly.

Question 7

Is RAM volatile or non-volatile?

Answer 7

Volatile.

Question 8

What does ROM stand for?

Answer 8

Read Only Memory

Question 9

What does the ROM do?

Answer 9

It is memory that cannot be changed after being programmed for the first time. It contains the instructions the computer needs to start. This is known as the bootstrap or BIOS.

Question 10

Is Rom volatile or non-volatile?

Answer 10

Non-volatile.

Question 11

What does the Cache do?

Answer 11

The cache stores frequently used data. It is faster than RAM but lower in storage. It is checked during the ‘fetch’ stage.

Question 12

Where is the Cache physically located in a computer?

Answer 12

The Cache is found in between the CPU processor and the RAM. But it is physically closer to the actual CPU.

Question 13

Where else might you find a cache (excluding a CPU)

Answer 13

You could find it in secondary storage devices or your browser.

Question 14

Is the cache volatile or non-volatile?

Answer 14

Volatile.

Question 15

What is secondary storage?

Answer 15

Storage that is not directly connected to the CPU.

Question 16

Fill in the blank: Secondary storage is always ________

Answer 16

Secondary storage is always non-volatile.

Question 17

What are 6 attributes to remember when comparing secondary storage devices?

Answer 17

Speed, cost, durability, portability, reliability and capacity.

Question 18

What are the 4 types of secondary storge?

Answer 18

Optical, Magnetic, Solid-state and Cloud.

Question 19

What are some examples of optical storage?

Answer 19

CD, DVD or Blue-Ray.

Question 20

What are some advantages to optical storage?

Answer 20

Portable, cheap, quite reliable, quite durable,

Question 21

What are some disadvantages to optical storage?

Answer 21

Can be damaged easily and not very high capacity.

Question 22

How does optical storage work?

Answer 22

It uses a laser beam to read bumps off a disk. Each bump represents a 1 or 0 in binary.

Question 23

What are some examples of magnetic storage?

Answer 23

Hard drives, casette tapes.

Question 24

What are some advantages to magnetic storage?

Answer 24

High capacity, cheap, reliable.

Question 25

What are some disadvantages to magnetic storage?

Answer 25

Not very durable, not very portable. Can also generate heat and noise.

Question 26

How does magnetic storage work?

Answer 26

There is a disk with parts of it being magnetised (a 1 in binary) or demagnetised (a 0 in binary). They use electro-magnets.

Question 27

What are some examples of solid-state storage?

Answer 27

Solid-state drive, SD card, Flash-drive / USB pen drive.

Question 28

What are some advantages of solid-state storage?

Answer 28

Fast, reliable, durable, very portable. Also silent and don't defragging.

Question 29

What are some disadvantages to solid-state storage?

Answer 29

Quite expensive, can't store as much.

Question 30

How does solid-state storage work?

Answer 30

It has no moving parts so it is non mechanical. It uses circuits and logic gates instead.

Question 31

How does cloud storage differ from the other 3 types.

Answer 31

It runs through the internet instead.

Question 32

What do the cloud storage servers usually run on.

Answer 32

Magnetic and solid state drives.

Question 33

What are some advantages of cloud storage?

Answer 33

Extremely portable, can be accessed anywhere, durable, mostly depends on service provided though.

Question 34

What are some disadvantages of cloud storage?

Answer 34

Might be expensive for smaller users, the service may not be reliable.