2.3.2 Architecture 2

Question 1

Primary storage

Answer 1

Memory

Question 2

Secondary storage

Answer 2

Name given to any device used to hold permanent copy of - save work

• operating system
• programmes
• data

Question 3

The need for secondary storage

Answer 3

Memory volatile

Then results of processing not stored there

Question 4

Types of secondary storage

Answer 4

Magnetic
Optical
Flash

Question 5

ROM

Answer 5

Used to permanently store basic I/o system

- instructions used to power up device and load operating system

Question 6

RAM

Answer 6

Main memory

- temporarily store operating system, programmes and data being used

Question 7

CACHE

Answer 7

Form of memory that can be r/w to
High speed volatile memory
Located in CPU
store copies of contents- most frequently used memory locations.
Searched by CPU before main memory.
Enables CPU to process instructions faster.

Question 8

Magnetic storage media

Answer 8

Data stores as magnetically aligned particles on…

- a read/ write head- platters

Question 9

How Can magnetic storage media read or write particles by

Answer 9

• moving to the correct sector of the platters which are constantly moving.
• and applying a magnetic force to the particles
• when a programme is loaded or a file opened the 1s and 0s are read and copied into the memory
• the permanent copy remains on the hard disk
• when a file is saved the results of processing are copied from memory and written in a pattern of particles on the sectors and tracks of a hard drive platter.

Question 10

FLASH

Answer 10

• data is stored electronically on silicon based microchips.
• look very different to RAM memory chips
• transistors contain an extra part that allows for the input/ output kept in transistor to be stored when no power.
• each FLASH device wiped at higher voltage required
• cannot r/w to I definitely.

Question 11

Typical optical storage media

Answer 11

CD-ROM 
CDR
CDRW
DVD
BLU RAY

Question 12

CD-ROM

Answer 12

700mb

Question 13

CDR AND CDRW

Answer 13

700mb

Question 14

DVD

Answer 14

4.7gb

Smaller light wavelength used= more circles can fit in

Dual layer DVDs used 2 layers on top of each other.

Question 15

BLU RAY

Answer 15

25gb

Blue light shorter wavelength than red
Used for HD storage media storage.

Question 16

Optical storage media

Answer 16

• laser beams are reflected back from the surface of the disk which
• contain pits 0 and lands 1
• the disk spins and data is read by the fixed laser reflector.
• surface of disk is a spiral pattern from the centre of the disk outwards.
• more concentric circles in higher capacity optical media.
• determined by wavelength of light used
• CD DVD BLU RAY used lower and less light wavelengths.

Question 17

Main memory

Answer 17

Part of internal memory
Immediate access memory
Made up of RAM

Question 18

C+ C main memory and cache

Answer 18

Both volatile
Cache is a form of RAM- main memory.

Contrast
Main memory- stores a portion of operating system, application software running and other data items needed when carrying out operations.

Cache memory- stores copies of contents most frequently used my memory locations.
Faster than main memory
More expensive

Question 19

Evaluate primary storage

Answer 19

Called memory
ROM- permanently store basic input output system
RAM aka main memory
Used to temporarily store OS, programmes and data being used and cache- very high speed memory used to store instructions that CPU most frequently needs.

Question 20

Evaluate secondary storage

Answer 20

Hold long term copies of programs and data we are using so they can be reloaded for use without need for reprogramming- also reload results of previous processing.

Magnetic
Optical
Flash

Some can be moved from computer to computer.