Learn: Why Computers Need Primary Storage

Welcome!Welcome to today's lesson, Year 11! We're going to learn about why computers need primary storage. By the end of this lesson, you'll understand why primary storage is so important for a computer to work effectively.

What is Primary Storage?Primary storage refers to memory that is used by a computer to store data and programs that are actively being used. It is fast and directly accessible by the CPU. Examples of primary storage include RAM and ROM.

Why Do Computers Need Primary Storage?Primary storage is essential because it temporarily holds data and instructions while the computer is in use. Without it, the CPU would have to fetch data directly from slower secondary storage, which would make your computer much slower.

RAM and ROMRAM (Random Access Memory) is volatile, meaning it loses its data when the computer is turned off. It is used to store data and programs currently in use. ROM (Read-Only Memory) is non-volatile and stores important instructions, like those needed to start up the computer.

Virtual MemorySometimes your computer needs more memory than what is available in RAM. In such cases, it uses virtual memory, which is part of the secondary storage used as extra RAM. However, accessing virtual memory is slower than accessing RAM.

Cache MemoryCache is a small and very fast type of primary storage located close to the CPU. It stores frequently accessed data and instructions to speed up processing. The larger the cache size, the faster the computer can operate.

Review Time!Great work! You've learned about why computers need primary storage, including RAM, ROM, virtual memory, and cache. Let's test your understanding with a few questions.