T1 - Memory/ Secondary storage Flashcards

1
Q

Types of Primary storage:

A

RAM
ROM

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2
Q

RAM:

A

Can be read from and written to
Access to RAM is much faster than a hard drive

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3
Q

RAM Stores:

A

OS first, then Software + Data
RAM holds copies of running programs from hard drive, when your computer is turned on

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4
Q

Volatile memory

A

When your computer is turned off, data stored is lost

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5
Q

Virtual memory:

A

Opened when there is not enough free space in RAM
is part of the hard drive used as an extension to RAM

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6
Q

VM Advantages:

A

Uses cheap secondary storage on the hard drive
Prevents error messages saying ‘out of memory’

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7
Q

VM Disadvantages:

A

very slow to access

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8
Q

Read-only memory (ROM)

A

Stores data even when a computer has no power
Data is read from ROM, but cannot be written to it
- non-volatile

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9
Q

non volatile memory

A

ROM = as the data isn’t lost if the power is off

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10
Q

ROM Stores:

A
  • bootsrap
    -bios
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11
Q

Bootstrap

A
  • The initial program that is run when the computer is turned on + tells computer where OS is on hard drive
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12
Q

Basic Input/Output System (BIOS)

A
  • It controls basic technical configuration of the computer
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13
Q

Secondary storage:

A

not directly accessible to CPU
non-volatile

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14
Q

Secondary storage: Uses: hard drive

A

Programs/data stored on hard drive

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15
Q

Secondary storage: Uses: Blu-rays

A

used to distribute films

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16
Q

Secondary storage: Uses: Memory sticks

A

used to transport data

17
Q

Secondary storage: Uses: Magnetic tape or external hard drives

A

may be used for backup

18
Q

Secondary storage: Uses: SD cards

A

can be used for additional storage on cameras and smartphones

19
Q

Secondary storage: Types:

A

Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
Solid State Drive (SSD)

20
Q

Offline secondary storage:

A

Compact Disc (CD), Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) or BluRay
Flash memory, SD cards
Removable HDD or SSD
Magnetic tape

21
Q

Magnetic storage description

A

: Mechanical parts move over the disks surface to read and write data magnetically, or a drive head reads a magnetic tape

22
Q

Magnetic storage Features:

A

Disk contains concentric circles called tracks
Each track is divided into sectors
Disk heads mounted on mechanical arms read and write the data

23
Q

Magnetic storage used in

A

hard disks used PCs and laptops.

24
Q

Magnetic storage Advantages:

A

large storage capacity, up to 6TB or more
relatively fast write speed
very cheap compared to SSD
USB can back up data

25
Magnetic storage Disadvantages:
Lots of mechanical parts, durability an issue, Not very portable
26
Optical storage description
: Lasers read and write data using light - uses songs, videos, films.
27
Optical storage Features:
Data is stored as pits and lands pressed into a spiral track A laser beam passes over the pits and lands the level of reflection is measured From this signal, 0s and 1s can be derived
28
Optical storage Advantages:
Cheap, very easily portable, takes up little space physically
29
Optical storage Disadvantages:
Less storage capacity compared to other types Easily damaged / scratched, requires a CD reader Slow write speeds
30
Pit size and wavelength: CD + Blu-ray
A CD has bigger pits and lands as red light has a larger wavelength The smaller Blu-ray pits and lands allow it to store more data
31
Solid State: description
Data is recorded onto solid memory chips without any moving parts
32
SSD Features;
non-volatile flash memory to store information
33
Flash memory:
Large electric current used to force electrons through a barrier and trap them on the other side They remain on the other side until ‘flashed’ with a new current, Low cost, portable, no moving parts, durable
34
Flash memory: Advantages:
Highly durable very fast read/write speeds, no noisy fan or drive arm, faster start up times
35
Flash memory: Disadvantages:
More expensive similar storage capacity as magnetic disks
36
How to access VM from hard drive
the existing data in RAM needs to be copied to the virtual memory, then data in virtual memory needs to be copied to RAM