Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: All of these
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
In computer terminology, the words storage and memory are often used in different ways. Memory usually refers to main memory or RAM, which is fast and temporary, while storage refers to secondary devices like hard drives and solid state drives, which are slower but persistent. These two categories differ in several important characteristics that affect performance, cost, and durability. This question asks which properties distinguish storage from memory.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Primary memory (RAM) is fast but relatively expensive per unit of capacity and is volatile, meaning it loses contents when power is turned off. Secondary storage like hard drives or SSDs is slower but much cheaper per unit of capacity and is non volatile, so it keeps data when power is off. Reliability can be viewed in terms of persistence; storage must reliably preserve data over long periods. Although RAM is reliable at run time, data in storage is designed to survive shutdowns, making its reliability characteristics different. Since price per gigabyte, reliability behaviour, and speed all differ between memory and storage, the best choice is that they differ with respect to all of these characteristics.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Consider speed differences.
RAM operates at much higher speeds, allowing the CPU to access data quickly, whereas storage devices are slower to read and write.
Step 2: Consider price differences.
Per gigabyte, RAM is more expensive than mass storage such as hard disks or SSDs.
Step 3: Consider reliability in the sense of persistence.
Storage is designed to retain data even when the system is powered off, while memory is volatile and loses contents on shutdown.
Step 4: Check the options.
Each of the characteristics listed (price, reliability, speed) is an area where memory and storage differ.
Step 5: Select “All of these” to reflect all the differences.
Verification / Alternative check:
Hardware specification sheets show that RAM modules cost more per unit capacity than hard disks or SSDs and have much higher bandwidth and lower access times. Books on computer architecture describe primary memory as volatile and secondary storage as non volatile. When teaching differences between memory and storage, exam guides frequently highlight three dimensions: cost, speed, and nature of data retention. This alignment confirms that all three listed characteristics distinguish storage from memory, making the combined option correct.
Why Other Options Are Incomplete:
Option A (Price): It is true that memory and storage differ in price per unit capacity, but focusing only on price ignores differences in speed and persistence.
Option B (Reliability): It is true that the devices have different reliability and persistence characteristics, but this is only part of the story.
Option C (Speed): Speed is a major difference, but by itself it does not capture the full set of distinctions.
Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes fixate on one aspect, such as speed, and ignore the others, or they may confuse the everyday use of the words memory and storage. Another mistake is to assume that storage is always less reliable because mechanical drives can fail; however, in the context of volatile versus non volatile, storage is more appropriate for long term retention. To answer accurately, remember that compared with storage, memory is faster but more expensive and volatile, whereas storage is slower but cheaper and persistent. All three areas of price, reliability, and speed reflect real differences.
Final Answer:
Storage and memory differ with respect to All of these characteristics: price, reliability, and speed.
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