Computer Memory as a section of Computer Hardware. Computer components, architecture, memory, and storage mechanisms. Consumer product identities remain in Consumer Tech.
Test your knowledge with these top questions!
How does a DRAM chip store each bit of data?
Each DRAM cell pairs one capacitor with one transistor; a full capacitor reads as 1 and an empty one as 0.
What happens to data stored in DRAM when a computer loses power?
Unlike flash storage, DRAM needs constant power to hold charge, so only saved files survive an outage.
Where does virtual memory store idle data when RAM fills up?
That disk reserve is often called the swap file or page file, and it works automatically in the background.
Which memory type is an erasable form of read-only memory used in USB drives?
Flash memory grew out of erasable read-only designs, so it keeps files without power yet allows rewriting.
How does read-only memory differ from random-access memory?
Random-access memory loses its contents without power, while read-only memory holds its contents.
What do DDR4 and DDR5 modules supply as a computer's main DRAM?
DDR modules plug into motherboard slots and move data twice per clock cycle to feed the processor.
Which fast processor memory is typically built from Static RAM?
Processor caches use Static RAM because it answers in a few cycles, keeping the CPU fed with ready data.
Why does DRAM in a computer need constant refreshing?
Each DRAM cell leaks its tiny electric charge, so the controller rewrites the data thousands of times per second.
How does paging organize virtual memory for the operating system?
These fixed-size pages let the system move only the needed chunks between RAM and disk.
How does a Static RAM cell store one bit of data?
A common Static RAM cell uses six transistors wired as a flip-flop, versus one transistor plus a capacitor in Dynamic RAM.