CAMBRIDG

3.3 Data storage E IGCSE

(0478/0984)

Common types of
secondary storage

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3.3 Data storage | Common types of secondary storage CAMBRIDGE IGCSE (0478/0984)

Common types of storage

Drive: The device that reads and writes data from secondary storage.

Magnetic + drive = Magnetic drive

Solid-state + drive = Solid-state drive

Optical + drive = Optical drive

3.3 Data storage | Common types of secondary storage CAMBRIDGE IGCSE (0478/0984)

Common types of storage

Drive: The device that reads and writes data from secondary storage.
Media: What the data is actually stored on.

Magnetic + drive = Magnetic drive

Solid-state + drive = Solid-state drive

Optical + drive = Optical drive

3.3 Data storage | Common types of secondary storage CAMBRIDGE IGCSE (0478/0984)

Common types of storage

Optical

Storage
Magnetic
devices

Solid-state/flash
3.3 Data
SLR3 Input,
storage
output
| Common
and storage
types
| Magnetic,
of secondary
flash
storage
and optical storage CAMBRIDGE IGCSE
OCR(0478/0984)
H046/H466

Optical storage

Pits

Lands
3.3 Data
SLR3 Input,
storage
output
| Common
and storage
types
| Magnetic,
of secondary
flash
storage
and optical storage CAMBRIDGE IGCSE
OCR(0478/0984)
H046/H466

Optical storage

label
protective layer
land

pit

base

laser
3.3 Data
SLR3 Input,
storage
output
| Common
and storage
types
| Magnetic,
of secondary
flash
storage
and optical storage CAMBRIDGE IGCSE
OCR(0478/0984)
H046/H466

Optical storage Positives

Cheap
Lightweight
Portable

label
protective layer
land

pit

base

laser
3.3 Data
SLR3 Input,
storage
output
| Common
and storage
types
| Magnetic,
of secondary
flash
storage
and optical storage CAMBRIDGE IGCSE
OCR(0478/0984)
H046/H466

Optical storage Positives Negatives

Cheap Slow access times
Lightweight Prone to scratches
Portable

label
protective layer
land

pit

base

laser
3.3 Data storage | Common types of secondary storage CAMBRIDGE IGCSE (0478/0984)

Common types of storage

Optical

Storage
Magnetic
devices

Solid-state/flash
3.3 Data storage | Common types of secondary storage CAMBRIDGE IGCSE (0478/0984)

Magnetic storage

N S

S N
0 1
3.3 Data storage | Common types of secondary storage CAMBRIDGE IGCSE (0478/0984)

Magnetic storage

Dust Human hair

Drive head

Disk Smoke
Fingerprint
particle
3.3 Data storage | Common types of secondary storage CAMBRIDGE IGCSE (0478/0984)

Magnetic storage

Positives
Cheap
Large capacity

Dust Human hair

Drive head

Disk Smoke
Fingerprint
particle
3.3 Data storage | Common types of secondary storage CAMBRIDGE IGCSE (0478/0984)

Magnetic storage

Positives Negatives
Cheap Slow access times
Large capacity Fragile

Dust Human hair

Drive head

Disk Smoke
Fingerprint
particle
3.3 Data storage | Common types of secondary storage CAMBRIDGE IGCSE (0478/0984)

Common types of storage

Optical

Storage
Magnetic
devices

Solid-state/flash
3.3 Data storage | Common types of secondary storage CAMBRIDGE IGCSE (0478/0984)

Solid-state/flash storage

Oxide layer
floating gate
Oxide layer
3.3 Data storage | Common types of secondary storage CAMBRIDGE IGCSE (0478/0984)

Solid-state/flash storage

Oxide layer
floating gate
Oxide layer
3.3 Data storage | Common types of secondary storage CAMBRIDGE IGCSE (0478/0984)

Solid-state/flash storage

Oxide layer
floating gate
Oxide layer

Positives
Durable
Fast access times
3.3 Data storage | Common types of secondary storage CAMBRIDGE IGCSE (0478/0984)

Solid-state/flash storage

Oxide layer
floating gate
Oxide layer

Positives Negatives
Durable Cost
Fast access times Limited read/write cycles
3.3 Data storage | Common types of secondary storage CAMBRIDGE IGCSE (0478/0984)

Suitable storage for specific applications

Magnetic Optical Solid state/flash

Hard disk drive, tape CD-R/RW, DVD-R/RW, Blu-ray SSD, memory sticks, flash memory cards
3.3 Data storage | Common types of secondary storage CAMBRIDGE IGCSE (0478/0984)

Suitable storage for

specific applications
Scenario: Helmet-mounted
action camera.
3.3 Data storage | Common types of secondary storage CAMBRIDGE IGCSE (0478/0984)

Suitable storage for

specific applications
Scenario: Home computer
storing operating system and
applications.
3.3 Data storage | Common types of secondary storage CAMBRIDGE IGCSE (0478/0984)

Suitable storage for

specific applications
Scenario: Distributing a video
game for a console.
3.3 Data storage | Common types of secondary storage CAMBRIDGE IGCSE (0478/0984)

Suitable storage for

specific applications
Scenario: Storing tracks on a
portable MP3 player.
3.3 Data storage | Common types of secondary storage CAMBRIDGE IGCSE (0478/0984)

Secondary storage
Optical (CD-R/RW, DVD-R/RW, Blu-ray)
• Low capacity compared to other types of storage.
• Slower access speeds.
• Thin, lightweight and portable.
Magnetic (hard disk drive, tape)
• High storage capacity.
• Faster access speeds.
• Has moving parts that will eventually fail.
• Hard disks perform better if they are defragmented.
Solid-state (SSD, memory stick, flash memory card)
• Medium storage capacity.
• Fastest access speeds.
• No moving parts, so they are very reliable.
• No noise.
• Low power usage.
• Eliminates the need for defragmentation.
• Limited number of write cycles.
• Expensive compared to other types of storage.