There are many elements involved in ensuring a computer operates at optimum capacity. To function properly, computers require memory to hold information that the central processing unit uses to process and complete instructions. Differentiate and discuss briefly any three points about primary and secondary memory.

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Primary and secondary memory both store data the computer manipulates. Primary memory refers to the storage locations for data addressed by the central processing unit (CPU) directly.

Generally, this storage is volatile, which means it is lost when the computer is turned off. Primary memory devices are the computer’s random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM), which stores frequently used CPU instructions. Secondary memory refers to devices used for long-term storage of data, as well as transportation: hard drives, solid state drives, and disk-based storage.

Primary memory is smaller than secondary memory: generally, a modern computer will have up to 32 gigabytes of RAM and hundreds of gigabytes or terabytes of permanent storage. However, primary memory can be addressed, read, and written significantly faster.

Multimedia applications require this faster access speed, thus, data is copied to the primary memory for processing, but stored permanently in the secondary memory. For larger files, this loading process can take significant amounts of time.

Since secondary memory is non-volatile, such devices can be used to transfer data between devices and users. DVDs and flash drives are thus commonly used to transfer and distribute data. Although the Internet is becoming the primary means of multimedia distribution, media such as films and software, are still commonly sold on DVDs.

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Academic.Tips. (2023) 'There are many elements involved in ensuring a computer operates at optimum capacity. To function properly, computers require memory to hold information that the central processing unit uses to process and complete instructions. Differentiate and discuss briefly any three points about primary and secondary memory'. 27 May.

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Academic.Tips. (2023, May 27). There are many elements involved in ensuring a computer operates at optimum capacity. To function properly, computers require memory to hold information that the central processing unit uses to process and complete instructions. Differentiate and discuss briefly any three points about primary and secondary memory. https://academic.tips/question/there-are-many-elements-involved-in-ensuring-a-computer-operates-at-optimum-capacity-to-function-properly-computers-require-memory-to-hold-information-that-the-central-processing-unit-uses-to-proces/

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Academic.Tips. 2023. "There are many elements involved in ensuring a computer operates at optimum capacity. To function properly, computers require memory to hold information that the central processing unit uses to process and complete instructions. Differentiate and discuss briefly any three points about primary and secondary memory." May 27, 2023. https://academic.tips/question/there-are-many-elements-involved-in-ensuring-a-computer-operates-at-optimum-capacity-to-function-properly-computers-require-memory-to-hold-information-that-the-central-processing-unit-uses-to-proces/.

1. Academic.Tips. "There are many elements involved in ensuring a computer operates at optimum capacity. To function properly, computers require memory to hold information that the central processing unit uses to process and complete instructions. Differentiate and discuss briefly any three points about primary and secondary memory." May 27, 2023. https://academic.tips/question/there-are-many-elements-involved-in-ensuring-a-computer-operates-at-optimum-capacity-to-function-properly-computers-require-memory-to-hold-information-that-the-central-processing-unit-uses-to-proces/.

Bibliography

Academic.Tips. "There are many elements involved in ensuring a computer operates at optimum capacity. To function properly, computers require memory to hold information that the central processing unit uses to process and complete instructions. Differentiate and discuss briefly any three points about primary and secondary memory." May 27, 2023. https://academic.tips/question/there-are-many-elements-involved-in-ensuring-a-computer-operates-at-optimum-capacity-to-function-properly-computers-require-memory-to-hold-information-that-the-central-processing-unit-uses-to-proces/.

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"There are many elements involved in ensuring a computer operates at optimum capacity. To function properly, computers require memory to hold information that the central processing unit uses to process and complete instructions. Differentiate and discuss briefly any three points about primary and secondary memory." Academic.Tips, 27 May 2023, academic.tips/question/there-are-many-elements-involved-in-ensuring-a-computer-operates-at-optimum-capacity-to-function-properly-computers-require-memory-to-hold-information-that-the-central-processing-unit-uses-to-proces/.

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