Computer Memory & Memory Organization Questions with Solutions

Computer memory stores data and instructions. This topic covers the memory hierarchy, from registers and cache memory to main memory (RAM and ROM) and secondary storage (hard disks, SSDs, optical discs and flash drives). It also covers types of RAM (SRAM and DRAM), types of ROM (PROM, EPROM and EEPROM), virtual memory, and units of memory from bits and bytes to kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes and terabytes. Exam questions test the differences between volatile and non-volatile memory, which memory is fastest or largest, memory unit conversions, and the role of cache memory. Remember that moving up the memory hierarchy makes memory faster and costlier per bit but smaller in capacity. RAM is volatile and loses its contents when power is switched off, while ROM keeps its contents. Practise the computer memory questions below. Each answer comes with a short explanation.