RAM & ROM

What is RAM?

• RAM (Random Access Memory) is primary storage that is directly connected to the CPU and holds the data and instructions that are currently in use

• RAM is volatile which means the contents of RAM are lost when the power is turned off

• For the CPU to access the data and instructions they must be copied from secondary storage

• RAM is very fast working memory, much faster than secondary storage

• RAM is read/write which means data can be read from and written to

• In comparison to ROM, it has a much larger capacity

What is ROM?

• ROM (Read Only Memory) is primary storage that holds the first instructions a computer needs to start up (Bootstrap)

• ROM contains the BIOS (Basic Input Output System)

• ROM is a small memory chip located on the computers motherboard

• ROM is fast memory, much faster than secondary storage but slower than RAM

• ROM is non-volatile which means the contents of ROM are not lost when the power is turned off

• ROM is read only which means data can only be read from

• In comparison to RAM, it has a much smaller capacity

A smart television allows the user to search the Internet and watch videos online.

The smart television uses RAM

Give two examples of data that the smart television could store in RAM [2]

• Current channel being watched

• Current volume

• Current video/file/tv program being watched

• Web browser/applications that are running

• Data being downloaded/buffered

Quinn has 512 kilobytes of ROM and 16 gigabytes of RAM in her computer

1. Describe the purpose of the ROM in Quinn's computer [2]

2. Describe the purpose of the RAM in Quinn's computer [2]

1. ROM

   • Store start-up instructions/bootstrap

   • Used to start the computer

2. RAM

   • Stores the parts of the OS / programs that are running

   • Stores data currently in use

   • ...for access by the CPU