Podcast
Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson
Questions and Answers
What are the three main types of storage devices based on accessibility by the computer?
What are the three main types of storage devices based on accessibility by the computer?
Primary Storage, Secondary Storage, Tertiary Storage
Which of the following are examples of primary storage devices?
Which of the following are examples of primary storage devices?
- Hard disk
- ROM (correct)
- Cache (correct)
- RAM (correct)
Which storage device is primarily used for archiving data that is not accessed frequently?
Which storage device is primarily used for archiving data that is not accessed frequently?
- Solid State Drives
- Optical storage
- Tertiary storage (correct)
- Hard disk
How is data stored on Magnetic storage? Data is written by changing ______ on the disk/tape and read by detecting this.
How is data stored on Magnetic storage? Data is written by changing ______ on the disk/tape and read by detecting this.
Signup and view all the answers
Solid State Drives have moving mechanical parts.
Solid State Drives have moving mechanical parts.
Signup and view all the answers
Flashcards are hidden until you start studying
Study Notes
Storage
- Storage is a way to keep information long term.
Types of Storage
- Classified into three categories: Primary Storage, Secondary Storage, and Tertiary Storage.
Primary Storage
- Also known as main memory.
- Connected directly or indirectly to CPU through memory bus.
- Examples include RAM, ROM, and Cache.
Secondary Storage
- Not directly accessible by CPU.
- Computer uses its input/output channels to access secondary storage and transfers the desired data using intermediate area in primary storage.
- Examples include hard disks.
Hard Disk
- Main and usually largest data storage device in the computer.
- Can store anywhere from 160 GB to 2 TB.
- Hard disk speed is measured in rotations per minute (RPM), ranging from 4500 to 7200 RPM.
- Disk access time is measured in milliseconds.
Tertiary Storage
- Typically involves a robotic mechanism that mounts and dismounts removable mass storage media into a storage device.
- Comprehensive computer storage system that is usually very slow, used to archive data that is not accessed frequently.
- Primarily useful for extraordinary large data stores, accessed without human operators.
Offline Storage
- Also known as disconnected storage.
- Not under the control of a processing unit.
- Must be inserted or connected by a human operator.
- Examples include floppy disks, USB flash drives, and memory cards.
Methods of Storage
- Paper
- Optical
- Magnetic
- Solid State
Paper Storage
- Pros: no need for electricity or internet, confidential information can be easily locked away.
- Cons: can be hard to make backups, hard to convert or reuse, takes up lots of space.
Optical Storage
- Examples: CDs, DVDs, and Blu-Ray.
- Uses different reflections of light to read data, and a laser to write data.
- Pros: reliable, good portability, easy to pack and carry.
- Cons: per unit, have a smaller capacity than alternative, slower read/write speed, needs a disc drive to use.
Magnetic Storage
- Examples: hard disk drives (HDD), cassettes, and swipe cards.
- Data is written by changing magnetism on the disk/tape and read by detecting this.
- Pros: available with large capacities and cheap to buy, usually reliable, although failures do occur.
- Cons: generally not durable, slower read/write times compared to SSDs.
Solid State Drives
- Have no moving parts.
- Electronic circuits are used to store the data.
- Examples: SSDs, flash memory devices like USB memory sticks, and memory cards (like SD cards).
- Pros: generally reliable, can be very durable, can be portable, generally faster read/write times.
- Cons: higher cost per GB, sometimes have a limited number of writes leading to reliability problems long term.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
