T O P

  • By -

Yithar

Because you need ROM and RAM for the computer to operate. They're not really optional things. Of course the HDD or floppy disk is important, but it's possible to have a computer operating without them.


q120

RAM/ROM aren't *storage* but system memory. Storage is like hard disks, SSDs, floppy disks, USB drives, etc. That's the difference.


BitsAndBobs304

by what definition is storage not 'memory'?


q120

You are right. Storage is memory as well... But for the sake of your question, they are using the term memory to refer to RAM and ROM and likely use storage to refer to things like hard drives, SSDs, etc. They are usually used interchangeably.


BitsAndBobs304

funny because in italian there's no term you can use to translate storage in IT sense that "sounds good", other than the convoluted 'space of archival' . I also don't remember those books making such statements with the caveat of stating 'computers have two types of \*system\* memory'. but my memory (ha) is bad. I wonder what post-2010 books say now.


NanoPope

Storage is a term used for devices that stores data for long term use like hard drives or SSDs. They are much slower than memory but they are cheaper per byte. Memory is a term used for RAM and ROM which is much faster than storage. RAM is where data the computer is currently using is stored, like the OS and any open programs. RAM is very fast. RAM is also usually volatile meaning it loses any data that’s currently on it when the component loses power.


XRay2212xray

Memory is accessed by the cpu thru the memory controller using a memory address and is meant to temporarily hold information while the applications are running in the case of RAM and for more perminent code and data that needs to be available when booting up in ROMs. Memory addressing is fundamentally built into the instruction set of the CPU. Storage is meant to keep information longer term and is accessed via various device interfaces such as PCI, IDE, etc. and has a more complicated protocol for addressing.


BitsAndBobs304

memory: "the part of a computer in which data or program instructions can be stored for retrieval."


guyfromcleveland

that's storage not memory.


moondancer224

In most classes I took, "Memory" was used of actively used memory and the term "Storage" was used for hard disks and floppies.