It refers to the media and devices used by a computer to keep data and instructions available for immediate or later use
What is Storage
100
Main memory or immediate access store(IMAS)
What is Primary Storage
100
It is also called auxiliary storage or backup storage and is used to store data and instructions when they are not being processed.
What is Secondary Storage
100
When information is temporary and changeable
What is volatile
100
a device that can exist in one of two states
What is a bi-stable device
200
The two categories that storage can be grouped into
What are primary and secondary storage
200
Random Access Memory(RAM) and Read Only Memory(ROM) chips.
What are the two types of memory chips
200
Magnetic tape, magnetic disk, optical disk, solid USB drives and flash memory
What are secondary storage devices
200
A very fast memory that the processor can access much more quickly than main memory or RAM
What is Cache Memory
200
The smallest unit of storage in a computer
What is a bit
300
Direct access, fast data transfer, vast storage capacity, not portable and can hold up to 1TB
What are the Characteristics of a Fixed Hard Disk
300
An integrated circuit (IC) made up of millions of transistors and capacitators
What is a memory chip
300
They are erasable, reusable, inexpensive, have large storage capacities but only allow sequential access.
What is Magnetic tape
300
The two levels of cache
What is L1 and L2
300
A combination of 8 bits
What is a byte
400
When the data is retrieved in the order it it was stored
What is Sequential access
400
When information is permanent and cannot be easily changed
What is non-volatile
400
Writing electronic information on the disk so that the computer can recognise the disk as a valid storage device and data can be stored
What is formatting a disk
400
A type of ROM that can be programmed using special equipment; it can be written to , but only once
What is Programmable ROM (PROM)
400
The amount of bits the computer can process in one operation
What is a word
500
Direct access, fast data transfer speeds, vast storage capacity compared to diskettes, portable, can be cleaned easily with a soft cloth, unaffected by magnetic fields
What are the characteristics of optical disks
500
Something that can hold data and instructions necessary for starting up the computer when it is switched on
What is a ROM chip
500
This storage system consists of a cabinet which may contain a large number of disk drives (up to 100)
What is a Redundant Array of Independent Disk (RAID)
500
This is a special type of ROM chip that can be erased and reprogrammed repeatedly by a user
What is Electrically Erasable PROM (EEPROM)
500
It can be a letter, a number, a symbol, a punctuation mark or a blank space