1.2.1 Primary Storage

• Primary Storage


  Data that needs to be accessed quickly e.g start up or boot instructions, operating systems and any data associated with the operating system or programs
• Random access memory (RAM)


  Volatile (needs power to maintain)

  Holds the operating system

  The CPU can access RAM Quickly

  More RAM means more programs and data it can run at the same time and the better the computers performance

  Can be read or written to

  Also known as the main memory in the computer
• Read-only Memory (ROM)


  Non-volatile (does not need power to maintain)

  Provides storage for data and instructions needed to start up the computer (also known as the boot process)

  Read only which means it cannot be overwritten

  Written at the manufacturing stage
• Virtual Memory


  Section of secondary storage to temporarily act like RAM

  Any data from a running program that is not currently being used by the computer