1.3.11

Read Only Memory

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Read Only Memory

Read Only Memory (ROM) is another type of main memory found in computers. It comes on a small, factory made chip in the motherboard. Features of ROM include:

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Non-volatile

  • ROM is non-volatile.
  • This means that ROM keeps its contents when power is lost.
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Read only

  • ROM is often made from flash memory. This means that its contents cannot be changed easily.
  • This means that the ROM only stores small programs that boots or starts up the computer.
  • These programs are called the Basic Input Output System (BIOS). They usually:
    • Load an operating system.
    • Check the system for errors.
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Fast but expensive

  • ROM is very fast to access.
  • ROM is typically expensive, so tends to be only small.

Jump to other topics

1Components of a Computer

2Software & Software Development

3Exchanging Data

4Data Types, Data Structures & Algorithms

5Legal, Moral, Cultural & Ethical Issues

6Elements of Computational Thinking

6.1Thinking Abstractly

6.2Thinking Ahead

6.3Thinking Procedurally

6.4Thinking Logically

6.5Thinking Concurrently

7Problem Solving & Programming

8Algorithms

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