GCSE J277 Unit 1.

2 | Memory and storage – Part 1 Craig’n’Dave

Name: zain

Specification and learning objectives

By the end of this topic, you will have studied:
• The need for primary storage
• The difference between RAM and ROM
• The purpose of ROM in a computer system
• The purpose of RAM in a computer system
• Virtual memory
• The need for secondary storage
• Common types of storage: optical, magnetic, solid-state
• Suitable storage devices and storage media for a specific application
• The advantages and disadvantages of different storage devices and media relating to these characteristics: capacity, speed, portability, durability, reliability, cost

Resources
We recommend the OCR-endorsed text book from PG Online for use during your GCSE studies.
Craig ‘n’ Dave videos for SLR 1.2
GCSE J277 Unit 1.2 | Memory and storage – Part 1 Craig’n’Dave

Virtual tour inside a computer Rom

Click here to
return to the
homepage

cpu

bios
ram
 GCSE J277 Unit 1.2 | Memory and storage – Part 1 Craig’n’Dave

CPU

Name
Central processing unit

Purpose
To fetch and execute instructions.

Components
• Arithmetic logic unit: Performs calculations and logic.
• Control unit: Decodes instructions and sends signals to
control how data moves around the CPU.
• Cache: Fast-access memory for frequently used
instructions and data.
• Registers: Small amounts of fast memory used to help
fetch and execute instructions.

Factors that affect speed

• Number of cores: Independent processing units.
• Clock speed: The number of cycles per second.
• Cache: Temporary storage of instructions and data.
 GCSE J277 Unit 1.2 | Memory and storage – Part 1 Craig’n’Dave

RAM

ame
andom Access Memory
urpose
mporary storage of instructions and data
olds data currently being used by the processor
olatile or non-volatile
latile-relatively small capacity compared to secondary
orage
ead or Read/Write
ead and write
GCSE J277 Unit 1.2 | Memory and storage – Part 1 Craig’n’Dave

ROM

Name
Read only Memory
Purpose
Holds start up instructions for the computer
Volatile or non-volatile
volatile-relatively small capacity compared to secondary
storage
Read or Read/Write
Read only
GCSE J277 Unit 1.2 | Memory and storage – Part 1 Craig’n’Dave

Virtual memory
When programs and data are fetched and
Virtual memory is:
executed, they are stored in RAM.
Virtual memory is required when there is not
Virtual memory is needed because:
enough physical RAM to store open programs.
The problem with using virtual memory is that:
The virtual memory makes the computer slow down
GCSE J277 Unit 1.2 | Memory and storage – Part 1 Craig’n’Dave

Example of virtual memory in use Hard disk

Scenario: A PC user has the operating system and a presentation app open.
Virtual memory on disk Stored programs on disk

Spreadsheet app
RAM
8GB
Graphics app
Presentation app

Word processor app

Video editing app

Operating system

0GB

If this user decides to open a graphics application to edit an image for the
presentation, they will run into a problem:

The would not be able to hold the graphics app so it will need to swap it out
for two of the apps because the graphics app would take a lot of storage
GCSE J277 Unit 1.2 | Memory and storage – Part 1 Craig’n’Dave

Example of virtual memory in use Hard disk

Scenario: A PC user has the operating system running, plus presentation and
graphics apps. The user is not currently working on the open presentation – Virtual memory on disk Stored programs on disk
they are only editing a photograph to include in a slide.

Word processor app

RAM
8GB Spreadsheet app

Presentation app
Graphics app

Video editing app

Operating system

0GB

Explanation of the use of virtual memory in this scenario:

The user swapped the graphics design back to the presentation and app
GCSE J277 Unit 1.2 | Memory and storage – Part 1 Craig’n’Dave

Example of virtual memory in use Hard disk

Scenario: The user switches back to the presentation app without closing the
graphics app. Virtual memory on disk Stored programs on disk

Spreadsheet app
RAM
8GB Word processor app

Graphics app Presentation app

Video editing app

Operating system

0GB

Explanation of the use of virtual memory in this scenario:

The graphics app can be put into virtual memory and the presentation app
restored back into RAM.
GCSE J277 Unit 1.2 | Memory and storage – Part 1 Craig’n’Dave

Why more RAM increases computer speed Hard disk

Scenario: The user doubles the amount of RAM in the computer to 16GB,
turns on the computer, opens the presentation and graphics apps, and Virtual memory on disk Stored programs on disk
continues working on their presentation.

RAM Word processor app

16GB

Presentation app

Video editing app

Spreadsheet app
8GB
Doubling the size of the RAM
makes the computer faster
Graphics app because:
more of the program
instructions can be
Operating system loaded and there is less
need to keep swapping
0GB data in and out to the
swap file on the hard
GCSE J277 Unit 1.2 | Memory and storage – Part 1 Craig’n’Dave

The need for secondary storage

ROM can’t be used to save files because: RAM can’t be used to save files because:

Therefore, secondary storage is required because:

Types of secondary storage

RAM, ROM, registers and cache are referred to as primary storage.
The operating system, programs and data are held in secondary storage when not in use.
The term tertiary storage is used to describe backups and archives of large amounts of data.

Secondary storage can be:

Data is stored using Data is stored using Data is stored using

magnetism. semiconductor chips. pits and lands.
GCSE J277 Unit 1.2 | Memory and storage – Part 1 Craig’n’Dave

Examples of secondary storage

FLASH MEMORY

HARD DISK

Image

Image

Type Solid state

Uses used in enterprise data centre server,

Type Magnetic
Uses Internal storage for PC/laptop.
Holds operating system and
program files.
Characteristics Moving drive head that has to
move to each part of a data
file. Hard disks perform better
if they are defragmented.
storage and networking technology, as well
as in a wide range of consumer devices,
including USB flash drives -- also known as
memory sticks -- SD cards, mobile phones,
digital cameras, tablet computers and PC
cards in notebook computers and
embedded controllers.
Characteristics low-cost, high-density, non-
volatile computer storage chip
that can be electrically erased and
reprogrammed.

Reliability and Reliability and very resilient to

8 Damaged by impacts 8
Durability Durability damage
Can be portable, but Very portable as it is
Portability 7 designed to be fitted
larger and heavier. Portability 8
into small electronic
Capacity 10 Very high: 2 – 8TB devices.

Capacity 8 2TB
Cost 7 Cheap
Cost 5 £33.70
Data access speed 7 Fast
UHS-I offers 50 MB/s in
half- or full-duplex
Data access speed 7
mode, or 104 MB/s in
half-duplex mode.
GCSE J277 Unit 1.2 | Memory and storage – Part 1 Craig’n’Dave

Examples of secondary storage

CD-R SOLID-STATE DRIVE

Image Image

Type optical Type Magnetic

Uses dvd Uses To watch

Characteristics Light, cheap Characteristics heavy

Reliability and Can be slow but Reliability and

6 6 Is bulky and solid
Durability reliable Durability

Portability 8 Lightweight can carry Portability 5 Can be too large

Capacity 7 Keeps data Capacity 6 Carry’s specific amount

Cost 8 affordable Cost 7 affordable

Data access speed 5 slow Data access speed 8 quick

GCSE J277 Unit 1.2 | Memory and storage – Part 1 Craig’n’Dave

Examples of secondary storage

BLU-RAY™ DISC DAT TAPE

Image Image

Type optical Type magnetic

Uses dvd Uses To watch

Characteristics Light, cheap Characteristics heavy

Reliability and Can be slow but Reliability and

7 7 Is bulky and solid
Durability reliable Durability

Portability 9 Light weight can carry Portability 5 Can be too large

Capacity 7 50 gb Carry’s a specific

Capacity 5 amount

Cost 7 affordable Cost 7 Affordable

Data access speed 2 slow Data access speed 7 quick

GCSE J277 Unit 1.2 | Memory and storage – Part 1 Craig’n’Dave

Suitability of devices

Alicia is using a helmet-mounted camera to record footage while snowboarding. Suggest two reasons why a solid-state memory card is a good choice for
secondary storage in this scenario and two reasons why a hard disk would be unsuitable.

Solid state is useful because it is light weight and portable

However hard disk is fragile as it has moving parts and it is heavy

Greg is considering whether to download games for his games console from an online store or purchase them on a physical format instead.
Suggest several reasons why he may choose one option or another.

Physical: portable. Data stored physically and not on cloud. Disk have to be physically bought
Online: not at risk of being lost or damaged. More straight forward and simple to be purchased
GCSE J277 Unit 1.2 | Memory and storage – Part 1 Craig’n’Dave

Suitability of devices

Abdullah wants to back his photos up and is considering using DVD-R disks. State two advantages and two disadvantages of this method.

Advantages of optical: portable, high capacity

Disadvantages: more expensive , can be lost or damaged

Sarah is a student who needs to access her files at both home and school. She currently emails the documents she is working on to her home and keeps a
copy of all her school work on the school servers. She then emails the files back into school and downloads the attachments to the school server when
she is back in class. Suggest a few better alternatives for Sarah and reasons why she might not choose each option.

Save the files onto solid a solid state drive. They are small, lightweight, portable and have high capacity
GCSE J277 Unit 1.2 | Memory and storage – Part 1 Craig’n’Dave

Suitability of devices

Scott is getting a new computer. He has three options for secondary storage. He could choose:
• A 6TB hard disk.
• A 2TB solid-state drive.
• A hybrid solution with a 500GB solid-state drive and a 4TB hard disk.

Suggest reasons why Scott may choose each option over the alternatives.

6tb hard disk: hard disk-many moving parts, fragile. But they are affordable and fast.
2tb solid state: expensive, can be damaged. However, they are small, lightweight, fast and have a large capacity
Hybrid solid state: expensive can be damaged. Small, light weight, fast. Large capacity
Hard disk: moving parts, fragile. However there are affordable and fast
GCSE J277 Unit 1.2 | Memory and storage – Part 1 Craig’n’Dave

Assessment Target: Overall grade:

Minimum expectations by the end of this unit

 Learn terms 16-29 from GCSE Level Key Terminology.
 Complete all pages of the workbook.
 Score 80% in the end-of-unit test.

Feedback
Breadth Depth Understanding

 All aspects complete  Excellent level of depth  All work is accurate

 Most aspects complete  Good level of depth  Most work is accurate

 Some aspects complete  Basic level of depth shown  Some work is accurate

 Little work complete  Little depth and detail provided  Little work is accurate

Comment and action Student response

GCSE J277 Unit 1.2 | Memory and storage – Part 1 Craig’n’Dave

Reflection and Revision checklist

Confidence Clarification
 I can explain the need for primary storage.

 I can explain the difference between RAM and ROM.

 I can explain the purpose of RAM in a computer system.
 I can explain the purpose of ROM in a computer system.
 I can explain the need for virtual memory.
 I can explain the need for secondary storage.

 I can explain common types of storage including: Optical, magnetic, solid-state.

 I can suggest suitable storage devices and media for a specific application.

 I can explain the advantages and disadvantages of different storage devices/media in relation to the following characteristic: capacity.

 I can explain the advantages and disadvantages of different storage devices/media in relation to the following characteristic: speed.

 I can explain the advantages and disadvantages of different storage devices/media in relation to the following characteristic: portability.

 I can explain the advantages and disadvantages of different storage devices/media in relation to the following characteristic: durability.
 I can explain the advantages and disadvantages of different storage devices/media in relation to the following characteristic: reliability.
 I can explain the advantages and disadvantages of different storage devices/media in relation to the following characteristic: cost.
My revision focus: