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Explain why a computer needs both primary and secondary storage - OCR - GCSE Computer Science - Question 5 - 2023 - Paper 1
Question 5
Explain why a computer needs both primary and secondary storage. Primary storage, also known as volatile memory, is essential for immediate data access, processing,... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Explain why a computer needs both primary and secondary storage - OCR - GCSE Computer Science - Question 5 - 2023 - Paper 1
Step 1
Explain why a computer needs both primary and secondary storage.
Answer
A computer requires both primary and secondary storage for efficient operation. Primary storage (e.g., RAM) provides fast, temporary access to data and instructions that the CPU needs while processing, enabling quick performance. Secondary storage (e.g., hard drives, SSDs) holds large volumes of data permanently, ensuring that important files and applications are retained even when the computer is turned off. This combination allows computers to run applications quickly while also providing the capability to store data for future use.