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Storage Devices

Primary storage refers to memory in a computer system like RAM and ROM. Secondary storage provides storage through peripheral devices like disks and is required for three reasons: data in memory is volatile, memory capacity is limited, and memory is more expensive. Common secondary storage devices include floppy disks, hard disks, optical disks like CDs and DVDs, and backup devices like tapes.

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71 views

Storage Devices

Primary storage refers to memory in a computer system like RAM and ROM. Secondary storage provides storage through peripheral devices like disks and is required for three reasons: data in memory is volatile, memory capacity is limited, and memory is more expensive. Common secondary storage devices include floppy disks, hard disks, optical disks like CDs and DVDs, and backup devices like tapes.

Uploaded by

Berlin Alcayde
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Storage Devices

Primary storage: is the storage provided


by memory in a computer system
e.g. ROM/RAM.

Secondary storage: is storage provided


by peripheral devices other than memory
Storage Devices

Secondary storage: is required in a computer


system for three reasons
1. The content of memory is usually volatile, which
means that if power is disconnected the data is
lost.

2. The capacity in megabytes of memory is limited.

3. Memory is more expensive than secondary


storage.
Storage Devices

Several types of disks may be used for


Secondary storage.

• Floppy disks

• Hard disks

• Optical disks (including CD-ROM, writeable


CD, DVD

• Backup Storage Devices e.g. tape


Storage Devices
Floppy Disk
A floppy disk is a low capacity disk which may be
removed from the computer.
There are two types:

Those holding a small amount of data (typically


1.44 Mb

And ‘Super floppies’ known as ZIP disks (typically


100 Mb
Storage Devices

Floppy Disk
They are small lightweight and easy to transport.

Ideal for backups of small amounts of data or for


transfer of data from one machine to another.

Floppy Drives are common to most if not all


computers.

On the down side, they may be easily misplaced,


damaged or stolen.

There is a risk of transferring VIRUSES


Floppy Disk/Diskette

Floppy Disk Drive


Storage Devices

Hard Disk
A hard disk is a higher capacity medium, with up to
hundreds of gigabytes.

They are usually non-removable, but removable


hard disks are becoming more common.

They can be both read from and written to, and are
the standard medium for storage on computer
systems today.
Background

The first hard drive of IBM’s RAMAC in 1956


Background

5MB Hard Disk in 1956


 The first hard disk
was the one in the
IBM 350 RAMAC
(Random Access
Method of
Accounting and
Control) computer.
It was invented in
1956, and it stored
5 million
characters (about
5 megabytes) on
fifty 24-inch
diameter platters.
Background

A typical SCSI hard drive


Background

Read/Write Head Movement


Background

Close-up of a hard disk head


Storage Devices

Hard Disk
Storage Devices

Hard Disk
You can see from the previous diagram a hard disk
is made up of Sectors, Tracks and Cylinders.

The specification of a hard disk depends not only


on its capacity but also:

Access time to data. This is affected by the rotation


Speed of the disk and also the way in which the disk
Is connected to the motherboard – standard being
SCSI and IDE
Storage Devices
Optical disks

CD ROM = Compact Disk Read Only Memory, is an


ideal device for storing large quantities of data and
information such as large software packages.
Optical Disc Drive
Storage Devices

Optical disks
CD ROM as the name suggests is Read Only

Writable CDs allow for large amounts of data to be


written to a CD as well as read from it. They are
sometimes know as CD-RW.

For these, a CD drive is needed which includes write


heads as well as read heads
Storage Devices

Optical disks
DVD or Digital Versatile Disk is a higher capacity
version of a CD and DVD drives have a higher
transfer rate.

DVD disks provide high quality playback of films and


audio and are increasingly found as standard on the
home PC.

DVDs may be read only or read/write. They are


sometimes know as DVD-ROM and DVD-RW.
Storage Devices
Optical disks

DVD disks are double sided so data is stored on


both sides of the disk.

DVD disks typically holds 4.7 Gbytes of data

Rewritable disks can be re-used thousands of times.


Storage Devices
Blu-ray Discs

Blu-rays discs are abbreviated as


BD are used for high-definition
video storage. It is often used by
gamers. Blu-ray discs are similar
to the CD's and DVD's in their
looks. It is the memory space
which makes all the difference
between the CD's, DVD's and
BD's. Blu-ray disc is an optical
storage device.
Storage Devices
USB Flash Drive
It has an integrated Universal Serial Bus
(USB) interface. They are non-volatile
and data can be rewritten on them. They
are very small in size, but have very
large memory space.
Storage Devices
Memory Cards
They can be used in various
electronic devices from hand held
computers, mobile phones,
cameras, etc. They are also
rewritable.
Storage Devices

Exercises
1. Optical disks use which technology?
2. CDs are read only TRUE or FALSE? Explain.
3. Why is a DVD of higher capacity, compared to a CD?
4. DVDs are read only TRUE or FALSE?
5. DVD disks typically holds
6. Do you need to back up a hard disk?
7. List five backup storage devices.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Storage Devices

Exercises
1. What is Primary Storage?
2. What is Secondary Storage?
3. What material is a floppy disk made from?
4. When the small window on one corner of a floppy disk is
closed, the disk is write protected TRUE or FALSE?
5. Give two advantages of floppy disks.
6. A Hard drive has cylinders, and
7. Hard drives have read/ heads.
8. The specification of a hard disk depends on:
1.
2.
3.
9. What does SCSI stand for?

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