Memory 1.2

Question 1

Main memory

Answer 1

RAM

Can be easily accessed by cpu

Question 2

RAM significance

Answer 2

• holds data temporarily so that cpu has access to it

- cpu cannot access hard drive directly

Question 3

Random access memory

Answer 3

• cpu can access any memory location at any time or in any order
• allowing programs to be loaded in ram to run quicker
• measure in GB = average 4gb
• volatile memory

Question 4

Volatile memory

Answer 4

Loses all data once power to memory has been lost/interrupted

Question 5

Virtual memory

Answer 5

• data that is on RAM but isn’t currently being used
• within the hard disk = only part of hard disk cpu can access directly
• volatile memory
• much slower to fetch data from here than from RAM
• os swaps data in/out of ram and vm as they are needed

Question 6

How is virtual memory used

Answer 6

As RAM fills up, the os allocates a part of the hard drive to vm temporarily

Question 7

Disk thrashing

Answer 7

• constant switching between RAM and VM
• leads to high rate of hard disk access
• you can hear the hard disk working when this happens
• computers performance tends to slow if vm is heavily used

Question 8

Read only memory

Answer 8

• non-volatile memory
• contents cannot be changed or overwritten
• read means to load it
• measured in MB
• keeps data even when there is no power supply
• stores bios

Question 9

Flash memory

Answer 9

• read and write memory
• non volatile
• can store bios, allowing it to be edited
• more expensive than any other type of memory
• has a limit to the amount of times it can be edited