Arrange: Memory Concepts
Put the steps and concepts in the correct order.
How to complete these exercises:
- Read the task description
- Drag the blocks into the correct order
- Click "Check Answer" to verify
- Green = correct position, Red = wrong position
Problem 1: Computer Boot Sequence
Arrange these steps in the order they happen when you turn on a computer.
BIOS searches for the operating system on the hard drive
Desktop appears and computer is ready to use
CPU reads boot instructions from ROM
Operating system files are copied from hard drive to RAM
BIOS performs POST (Power On Self Test)
Drag blocks here in the correct order
Problem 2: Virtual Memory Process
Arrange these steps to show what happens when RAM becomes full.
New program loads into the freed RAM space
RAM becomes completely full
When old data is needed, it's swapped back from hard drive
Operating system identifies least recently used data
This data is moved to the page file on the hard drive
Drag blocks here in the correct order
Problem 3: Memory Speed (Fastest to Slowest)
Arrange these memory types from FASTEST to SLOWEST access speed.
RAM
L2 Cache
Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
CPU Registers / L1 Cache
Solid State Drive (SSD)
L3 Cache
Drag blocks here: fastest at top, slowest at bottom
Problem 4: Categorise RAM vs ROM
Drag each characteristic to the correct memory type.
Stores running programs
Contains BIOS instructions
Volatile - loses data when power off
Non-volatile - keeps data without power
Can be read and written to
Read-only (cannot easily change)
Typically 4GB - 64GB in size
Only a few MB in size
RAM
ROM
Problem 5: How Cache Works
Arrange these steps to show how cache memory speeds up data access.
A copy is also stored in cache for next time
Next time CPU needs same data, it's found in cache (cache hit!)
CPU needs to access some data
Data is fetched from RAM (slower)
CPU checks cache first - data not found (cache miss)
Drag blocks here in the correct order