GCSE Computer Science: Memory & Storage Revision

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What does the CPU do?

Memory & Storage is a core part of GCSE Computer Science. Revise the key concepts and common mistakes below, then lock them in with the free games.

Key concepts

RAMRandom Access Memory: volatile main memory holding running programs and data.

ROMRead Only Memory: non-volatile memory holding firmware such as the bootloader.

Virtual memoryUses part of secondary storage as if it were RAM when main memory is full.

HDDHard Disk Drive: magnetic spinning-platter storage with high capacity but slower access than SSD.

SSDSolid State Drive: flash-memory storage with no moving parts, faster than HDD.

Optical storageStorage on CD, DVD or Blu-ray, read by a laser; useful for long-term distribution.

Solid-state storageSecondary storage with no moving parts that stores data in flash memory chips, making it fast, quiet and resistant to shocks.

Where Memory & Storage sits in each exam board's specification. Tap a board to see what it lists.

OCRMemory and storageSpec J277

Part of: Component 1 — Computer systems

Learn Memory & Storage step by step

Free interactive mini-lessons: short screens, worked examples and quick checks. Pick your exam board:

Questions where students often pick the tempting wrong answer — make sure you know the right one:

What does the CPU do?✗ Permanently stores all the computer's files. ✓ Processes instructions (fetch–decode–execute).

How do RAM and storage differ?✗ They are the same thing. ✓ RAM is fast, volatile working memory; storage keeps data without power.

Test yourself with these quick revision games for this topic: