CS 3 Lesson 2

​What is a RAM?

​What is a ROM?

• -Random Access Memory is the internal memory of

the CPU for storing data, program, and program result. It is

a read/write memory which stores data until the machine is

working. As soon as the machine is switched off, data is

erased.

• ​Contains Capacitors and transistors

• ​Capacitors need to have electricity to keep the bits of data so they need to be dynamically refreshed often, otherwise if the electricity is turned off, they will forget the bits data that was stored

• Only contains transistors but requires more space and is really fast

• ​composed of 4 - 6 transistors and doesn't need to be refreshed

!!take note!!

​

​In order for the program

​to run, it needs to be loaded

​to the RAM first.

​

​Why not Hard drive and CPU just connect directly?

​When does the "lag" happen in this process?

ROM is pre-programmed to suit its intended hardware. It often controls functions that are both integral to the utility of the device and unlikely to need modification or personalization. One kind of data usually stored in a ROM chip is the Basic Input-Output System (BIOS). A device’s BIOS controls the way the device responds to cues from the user at the most fundamental level, such as a computer’s “booting-up” process that occurs when the system powers on.

Stores data that are required to

​start a computer.