The laptop computer used by the Mathematics department for stocktaking purposes has the following technical specifications and software installed: 15.6" 360° rotating touch-screen monitor Core i7 4510U 3.1 GHz processor 8 GB DDR3 RAM 1 TB T7200 RPM HDD USB 3.0 port and USB 2.0 port HDMI port and an SD card reader RJ45 LAN jack and Gigabit Ethernet Bluetooth 4.0 Integrated graphics processor Windows 8.1 operating system Instant-on functionality 2.1 Explain why each of the following components is essential for the functioning of any computer: 2.1.1 ROM 2.1.2 RAM 2.2 State ONE advantage of a touch-screen monitor - NSC Information Technology - Question 2 - 2016 - Paper 2

RAM (Random Access Memory) temporarily holds all data and instructions that are actively used by the CPU. It allows for quick read and write access, supporting smooth and efficient processing.

A touch-screen monitor can serve as an alternative input device, allowing users to interact directly with the screen for navigation and control, which can enhance usability and accessibility.

One disadvantage of using an HDD is that it is more susceptible to damage due to moving parts, making it less durable compared to solid-state drives (SSDs).

1. The operating system ensures that the same area of memory is not used by multiple programs simultaneously.
2. It manages the allocation and deallocation of memory space as needed for processes.

1. Provides a graphical user interface (GUI) for user interaction.
2. Manages hardware devices and ensures that all input/output operations are performed correctly.

One reason is that ultra-notebooks are designed to be slim and lightweight, which makes incorporating larger components like DVD drives impractical. Additionally, modern alternatives like USB drives and digital downloads offer faster data transfer rates and larger storage capacities.

The Ethernet port allows the computer to connect to a network via a wired connection, facilitating internet access and communication with other devices.

Using a separate graphics processor can speed up processing because it takes on the graphical tasks, allowing the CPU to focus on other functions. This results in improved overall performance and graphics rendering.

A flash disk communicates its need for attention by sending an interrupt signal to the operating system, prompting it to check the device and manage the required operations.

A flash disk is considered a plug-and-play device because when it is inserted into a USB port, the operating system automatically detects the device and loads the necessary drivers without requiring user intervention.

The purpose of cache memory is to store frequently accessed data and instructions, enabling quicker data retrieval for the CPU and improving overall processing speed.

Disk caching is the process of using a small amount of RAM in the hard drive to temporarily store frequently accessed data, which allows for faster retrieval and reduces load times.

Utility software consists of programs or applications that perform maintenance and administrative tasks for the computer, enhancing its functionality and performance.

An example of utility software that defragments the hard drive is a disk defragmenter. It reorganizes fragmented data to optimize read and write efficiency, improving overall system performance.

Virtual memory uses a portion of the hard drive as an extension of RAM, enabling the system to run larger applications by temporarily transferring data that is not actively in use from RAM to a reserved space on the hard drive.