Memory Unit II - SS2 ICT Past Questions and Answers - page 2

Primary memory, also known as main memory or RAM, is a type of volatile memory that provides fast access to data and instructions for the CPU. It is used to temporarily store the data that the CPU is currently working with. Secondary memory, on the other hand, is non-volatile and provides long-term storage for data, programs, and the operating system. It has a larger storage capacity but slower access times compared to primary memory.

Primary memory is considered volatile because it loses its contents when the computer is powered off or restarted. This means that any data or programs stored in primary memory will be lost if not saved to secondary memory. The implications of this volatility include the need to regularly save data to secondary memory to avoid data loss, as well as the requirement to reload programs and data into primary memory each time the computer is turned on.

Examples of storage devices that fall under the category of secondary memory include hard disk drives (HDDs), solid-state drives (SSDs), optical disks (CDs, DVDs), USB flash drives, and magnetic tapes. These devices are used for long-term storage and data archival.

The storage capacity of primary memory is relatively small compared to that of secondary memory. Primary memory is designed to hold the data and instructions needed for immediate processing by the CPU. It typically ranges from a few gigabytes (GB) to several terabytes (TB) in size. In contrast, secondary memory devices, such as hard drives and SSDs, can have storage capacities ranging from hundreds of gigabytes to multiple terabytes.