3.4 Computer SystemsIntroduction

The Desk with a Filing Cabinet

Part of Virtual Memory · GCSE GCSE Computer Science revision

This introduction covers The Desk with a Filing Cabinet within Virtual Memory for GCSE Computer Science. Revise Virtual Memory in 3.4 Computer Systems for GCSE Computer Science with 15 exam-style questions and 16 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 1 of 10 in this topic. Use this introduction to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.

Topic position

Section 1 of 10

Practice

15 questions

Recall

16 flashcards

The Desk with a Filing Cabinet

Imagine you're working at a desk with limited surface area (this is your RAM). You're working on 10 different projects, but your desk only has space for 3 folders at once. What do you do? You keep a filing cabinet next to your desk (this is your hard drive). When you need to work on a different project, you quickly swap folders between the desk and the filing cabinet. This is exactly how virtual memory works - it uses hard drive space as an extension of RAM when you run out of physical memory!

Keep building this topic

Read this section alongside the surrounding pages in Virtual Memory. That gives you the full topic sequence instead of a single isolated revision point.

Deep Dive: What is Virtual Memory?How Virtual Memory Works Benefits vs. Drawbacks of Virtual Memory

Practice Questions for Virtual Memory

What is virtual memory?

A. Extra RAM chips added to the motherboard
B. A section of the hard drive used as an extension of RAM
C. Cloud storage accessed over the internet
D. A type of ROM used during booting

1 markfoundation

Explain how virtual memory works when a user opens more programs than RAM can hold.

3 marksstandard

Quick Recall Flashcards

15 questions on Virtual Memory — practise free

Instant marking, adaptive difficulty, and 16 spaced repetition flashcards. Free until your GCSEs.

Try PrepWise Free

Back to

Virtual Memory

Deep Dive: What is Virtual Memory?