Question

Ram and hard disks are both forms of data storage. How are they alike? How are they different? In particular, discuss the relative advantages and disadvantages of each.

Answer 1

solution:

RAM takes the form of computer chips — integrated circuits — that are either soldered directly onto the main logic board of your computer, or installed in memory modules that go in sockets on your computer’s logic board.

RAM stands for Random Access Memory. The data stored in RAM can be accessed almost instantly regardless of where in memory it is stored, so it’s very fast – milliseconds fast. RAM has a very fast path to the computer’s CPU, or central processing unit, the “brain” of the computer which does most of the work.

Computers need some form of non-volatile storage: A place data can stay even when the computer isn’t being used, so you don’t have to reload and re-enter everything each time you use the computer. That’s the point of having storage, in addition to RAM.

Storage for the vast majority of computers in use today consists of a hard disk drive. Hard drives can provide hundreds or thousands of gigabytes of space that can be used to store applications, documents, data and all the other stuff you need to get your work done

Storage is slower than RAM. Hard disk drives are mechanical devices, so they can’t access information nearly as quickly as memory does. And storage devices in most personal computers use an interface called Serial ATA (SATA), which affects the speed at which data can move between the drive and the CPU.

They affects our computer by these ways

RAM, the most serious bottleneck to improving performance in your computer can be your storage. Even with plenty of RAM installed, computers need to write information and read it from the storage system – the hard drive or the SSD.

Hard drives come in different speeds and sizes. Many operate at 5400 RPM (their central axes turn at 5400 revolutions per minute). You’ll see snappier performance if you can get a 7200 RPM drive, and some specialized operating environments even call for 10,000 RPM drives. Faster drives cost more, are louder and use more power, but they exist as options.