Is disk access slower than main memory?

slow. Disk refers to a memory that uses magnetic recording technology to store data. It is a kind of auxiliary memory. The function of main memory is to store instructions and data, and can be directly and randomly accessed by the central processing unit (CPU); compared with auxiliary memory (such as disks), it has the characteristics of small capacity, fast read and write speed, and high price.

The operating environment of this tutorial: Windows 7 system, Dell G3 computer.

Disk access speed is slower than main memory.

Disk

Disk refers to a memory that uses magnetic recording technology to store data. Disk is the main storage medium of computer. It can store a large amount of binary data and maintain data without loss even after power outage. The disk used in early computers was a floppy disk (Floppy Disk, referred to as floppy disk), and the disk commonly used today is a hard disk (Hard disk, referred to as hard disk).

Disk is a kind of auxiliary storage.

Main memory

Main memory (Main memory), referred to as main memory, is an important component of computer hardware. Its function is to store instructions and data, and can be Central processing unit (CPU) direct random access, made of semiconductor devices. It is characterized by fast access speed.

Main memory is the bridge between external memory and the CPU. All programs in the computer run in the memory. The performance of the memory affects the overall performance of the computer. As long as the computer starts running, the operating system will transfer the data that needs to be calculated from the memory to the CPU for calculation. When the calculation is completed, the CPU will transmit the results.

Main storage vs. auxiliary storage

Main storage generally uses semiconductor memory, and auxiliary storage (such as hard disk, floppy disk, tape, CD) has the characteristics of small capacity, fast reading and writing speed, and high price. The main memory in the computer is mainly composed of five parts: memory bank, control circuit, address register, data register and address decoding circuit.

If you want to read more related articles, please visit PHP Chinese website! !

The above is the detailed content of Is disk access slower than main memory?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!