Overview.

Students often confuse the computers memory with storage. This is in part due to the use of the term CD-ROM. which is sometimes confused with the ROM chipset of the computers mother board. I personally never use the expression CD-ROM the ROM part is superfluous anyway.

Computers have two sorts of "memory" I use the term loosely here. Permanent memory and temporary memory. Permanent memory requires no power to be maintained. Temporary memory does.

Temporary Memory

There are two types of computer memory RAM and ROM

RAM random access memory RAM stores data as temporary electrical signals. Any data stored in RAM is lost when the power is switched off. The amount of RAM a computer has can effect its performance. Currently most of the computers in the school have 256 mB of RAM.

ROM Read Only Memory ROM is permanent The programs contained in ROM are placed there by the computers manufacturer. They are designed to allow the link operating system (OS) of the computer to control the various devices.

Storage

sometimes this is called backing storage. This consist of a range of devices that are used to store data and programs. The most important part of this is the computer's various disk drives. What is placed in storage is maintained whilst the power is off. These are described in the earlier pages of this part of the site.

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