Data Storage
CSci 131 Sept. 12, 2006
5/26/2013
Outline
Bytes Main Memory Mass Storage Comparison Quiz1 10 min
5/26/2013
Bit Review
Flip-flops and capacitors provide means for storing a bit Flash memory electrons are trapped inside tiny chambers
Two states are full or empty chambers
Flip flops, cores, capacitors are forms of
dynamic memory
Flash memory holds the data permanently
3
5/26/2013
Bytes
Byte is 8 ordered bits
10000000 and 00000001 are different
The left end is the high-order end and the leftmost bit is the most significant bit The right end is the low-order end and the rightmost bit is the least significant bit
5/26/2013
Storage Measurements
5/26/2013
Example
A file is 5,376,000 bytes long
How many kilobytes (KB) is this? How many megabytes (MB) is this?
5/26/2013
Main Memory
Main memory is a sequence of cells that can hold 1 byte Each cell has a unique numerical address Main memory is ordered
5/26/2013
Main memory
Consecutive bytes (cells) are used for larger data
5/26/2013
Properties of main memory
Random Access Memory RAM
each cell or memory location can be referenced, accessed, or modified in the same amount of time Access time is measured in nanoseconds
Memory is very fast
Memory is volatile
Contents disappear when power is gone
9
5/26/2013
Mass Storage
Also called Secondary Memory Much larger and cheaper than RAM Data contents remain after power is disconnected Access times are slower (in milliseconds) since secondary storage relies on mechanical motion
10
5/26/2013
Types of Mass Storage
Hard disk Floppy disk Zip Disk CD DVD Flash drive
11
5/26/2013
Disk Storage
Each surface of a disk has magnetic coating The surface is divided into rings called
tracks
Each track is broken down into sectors
Every track on a disk has the same number of sectors Each sector holds the same amount of data
12
5/26/2013
Disk Storage
5/26/2013
13
Disk Storage
Disk spins while a read/write head moves in and out to view different areas Types:
Hard disks: not removable, fast, primary storage Floppy/Zip disks: removable, slower, used for distribution or backup
14
5/26/2013
Disk Access
Move read/write head to proper track Wait for disk to spin and sector to move under read/write head Read from (write to) the sector as it passes under the read/write head
5/26/2013
15
Disk Access Terms
Seek time: time to move read/write head between tracks Latency time: time for disk rotation Access time: seek time + latency time Transfer rate: rate at which data can be transferred to/from disk
5/26/2013
16
Compact Disc (CD)
Uses optical technology instead of magnetic discs Each CD is a spinning, 5 in. diameter disc with reflective material and protective coating Writing requires a laser creating variations on the surface Reading uses a laser and mirrors to monitor the surface of the CD
17
5/26/2013
Compact Disc (CD)
CD is a single track that spirals where a hard drive was multi-track All sectors are the same size
Benefit of better storage space use Drawback of slower access time
Main types: CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD
18
5/26/2013
Tape Storage
Long plastic band with magnetic coating Organized into blocks separated by inter-
record gaps
Blocks store data Inter-record gaps help seeking
5/26/2013
19
Tape Storage
Tape access is linear. Tape must be wound until needed block is under the read/write head. Tapes are slow but can hold large amounts of data Used primarily as backups for hard drives
5/26/2013
20
Comparison
5/26/2013
21
Assignment for 09/14
Read Sections 1.4, 1.5 HW1 due Thurs. 14 (next class) Quiz1 now
5/26/2013
22
Main Memory
Want as much fast storage as possible But RAM is volatile Disk slower but larger and non-volatile Cost Engineering Why 1GB of RAM? 100 GB hard-drive?
23
5/26/2013