Definition of PC Memory
Personal computers (PCs) help us out in many ways, and they do all their functions by storing data in memory and then performing various operations on them. There are many types of memory that PCs use; the most commonly recognized is Random Access Memory (RAM). There are, however, many other types. There is Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) chipset memory, hard drive memory, optical storage and removable flash memory.
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Random Access Memory (RAM)
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RAM is the place in your computer where the operating system keeps programs that are currently running, and data that is of immediate use. RAM is faster than other types of memory like hard drives and floppy drives, so it is appropriate for this use. It stores data in chips that keep patterns of electrical charges representing the data. It is volatile memory though, and the data is erased when the computer is turned off.
Non-Volatile Memory
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The computer's Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) information is stored on chips that have the information set into their internal circuits in such a way that it preserves the data when the current is turned off. This is important because this type of memory is used to store information needed by the computer when first starting up and the RAM is blank.
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Hard Drives
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Long-term storage requires a very stable type of memory; hard drives are used for this purpose in a PC. They are magnetic disks with the information recorded to them by a magnetic read/write head. This means the data will stay in stable form with the power off for long periods of time with no danger of being erased. The only danger is from external magnetic fields that might be strong enough to erase or change the data.
Optical Media
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Compact Discs (CDs) and Digital Video Discs (DVDs) are two examples of optical storage. This memory is long term like hard drives, but doesn't have the danger of being de-magnetized by external fields. In this type of memory, a single disc is used for storage, and data is recorded with a laser that burns the digital information into a spiral track in the surface of the disc. There are various versions that are re-writable, and some that can only be written to once.
Removable Flash Memory
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Universal Serial Bus (USB) drives are an example of removable flash memory. They use a type of chip like BIOS that will keep the data after there is no longer any current in the chip. This makes a USB drive a good choice for long-term stable memory that can be changed and re-written easily.
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