3.5 Primary Storage

Primary storage is the part of the computer that holds data and programs before and after they have been processed by the CPU.

Read Only Memory (ROM)

ROM holds data and instructions permanently set when the computer was produced. The software in the ROM is called firmware. The contents of the ROM can't be erased and are called non-volatile because if you turn off the power the contents are not lost.

Random Access Memory

RAM is where data and instructions are held temporarily. They are lost if the power is turned off and are called volatile.

True or False? Write out the true sentences and change the false sentences so that they are true.

 

Primary storage is located on the computer’s mainboard.

Computers with more primary storage can store more data and larger programs.

Most personal computers have their primary storage measured in kilobytes.

One megabyte equals one billion bytes.

ROM is volatile.

The contents of ROM cannont be changed.

EPROM chips cannot be reprogrammed.

RAM is where data and instructions are held temporarily.

SRAM chips are used in portable computers.

Cache memory is another type of primary storage.