2134466
Description
Flashcards by kaimcclymont, updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by kaimcclymont
over 9 years ago
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| Question | Answer |
| Name three different types of COMPUTER MEMORY | Cache Memory Random Access Memory Virtual Memory |
| Describe how the CPU uses CACHE MEMORY and RAM | Cache memory is used to temporarily store data which is waiting to be processed. If the CPU needs to access a new program, the data needed is copied from the hard disk to in the RAM, where the CPU can then access the data and instructions for the program when they are needed. |
| Why is the program data copied from the hard disk to the RAM, rather than used directly from the hard disk? | Accessing the data from a hard disk or other type of secondary storage incredibly slow for the CPU. For this reason, the program data is copied to the RAM, allowing the CPU to access the data quickly when it is needed. |
| RAM is Volatile memory. What is meant by the word 'Volatile'? | If memory is volatile, all data stored on that hardware is lost when the power supply is switched off. this is because the data is stored as a charged spot in a transistor. When the power is disconnected, the charge cannot be maintained, and the data is lost. |
| Why is Solid State memory used? | Solid State memory is non-volatile, meaning that if the power supply is disconnected, the data stored is retained for later use. Because of this feature, the memory is slow for the CPU to access, creating the need for RAM. |
| What is Read Only Memory (ROM)? | ROM is storage which cannot be re-written or edited. It generally contains the boot sequence for the computer. ROM is similar to RAM in that they both store data as charges in a transistor. connecting transistors in a certain way allows them to retain the data when the power supply is disconnected, meaning that it it non-volatile. This is difficult to manage, making it expensive, meaning that is can only be used in small amounts. |
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