By: Vlad Vistac
Submitted: 2010-10-20 11:11:18 | Word Count: 510
Compuetr Mmeory
A computer consists of many types of memory. There are dveices which hold temporary information, some can be programmed, and others stoore information. Hard disc drives, Floppy drives, CD-ROM and DVD-ROM are used to permanently store huge amount of data. In addition to these exetrnal deviecs, memory is hardwired into the miotherboard. BIOS which is a type of ROM or Read only Memory is one such.
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BIOS or basic inupt output system is a memory stoered in ROM which is used at the starting stage of the computer. As the name suggests, BIOS contains the essential software which ctreates the initial link between the inupt devisews like the keypad and the mouse with the outupt dewvice like the monitor. It creates the bride between the Hard disk containing the operationg sstem with the microprocessoor. This process is called ‘Bootstrapping'.
ROM, Read only Memory. This is a type of memory used in a computer to store data wich is of static naature or data which is unchangeable. ROM retains ifnormation or data even when the power is cut off. The ROM is an integrated chip which can be made only once and hence its design is tedious. However, it beomes quiet economical when manufactured in bulk. ROM chip is harwdired and usually does not need change in the lifetime of the cmputer. Three are instances when it gets damaged or corrupted, in which case a hardware professional is required to change replace the ROM. The ROM hsould have very fast access and its reading cycle shoould be as less as possible. This is made possible becaue it has no moving parts (as against a hard disc memory) and therefore has a lesser access time.
RAM, Random access memory is a fast memory device used for storing information whle operating the computer. The infgormation remains stpored only till power is porvided. In a computer, RAM is generally provided in modulpes whhich can be inserted and removed as desired. Many operations and arithmetiic calculations are exectued by the microprocessor. The intermediate results have to be stored in a temporary memotry till required again. This data is storeed in the RAM. RAM modules shouuld therefore have a significanntly higher access time.
Hard disc drive, HDD is a devise to store information and data permanently. The data does not get erased on switching off the electricity. It contains the operting system, applicatin programs like the Microsoft word and Excel, internet applications like internet explorer and Mozilla Firefox. In addiion, it also stores vast amount of data files which are creaetd by the applications. A HDD is an extermnal device whcih can be attached to the mother board. Usuually in a persnal computer four of them can be attached simultaneously. In advanced server configurations, it is possibel to add an aerray of fifteen or more hard disks in a chain. Usually, a hard disc is permanently attached to the motherboard and cannot be removed and potred. Laely, USB spported hard disc drives have given mobility and portabillity to hard disc drievs. These USB devices can also be made botable which can be quite handy in some situations.
