Computer Project
Topic : Storage Devices
Storage Devices
A computer storage device is any type of hardware that
stores data.
There are two types of storage devices used in computers:
1. Primary storage device
2. Secondary storage device.
The most common type of storage device, which nearly all
computers have, is a hard drive.
The computer's primary hard drive stores the operating
system, applications, and files and folders for users of the
computer.
Primary Storage Devices
Primary storage or the commonly referred Random
Access Memory is the memory which is directly accessible
to the CPU. The CPU constantly reads instructions from
this memory. The capacity of RAM in terms of data
storage is less, but it offers a very fast access rate, thus
making it pretty expensive. Though, primary storage allows
faster access, it is highly volatile in nature, that means, it
clears up during the booting. BIOS loads the booting
instructions from the non-volatile main memory and
executes them to boot RAM. The problem of volatility can
be avoided using Read Only Memory (ROM). Though ROM
retains the program instructions it does not allow to add or
change them.
RAM
Random-access memory (RAM) is a form of computer data
storage. Today, it takes the form of integrated circuits that
allow stored data to be accessed in any order (i.e.,
at random). "Random" refers to the idea that any piece of
data can be returned in a constant time, regardless of its
physical location and whether or not it is related to the
previous piece of data.
Modern types of writable RAM generally store a bit of data in
either the state of a flip-flop, as in SRAM (static RAM), or as
a charge in a capacitor (or transistor gate), as in DRAM
(dynamic RAM), EPROM, EEPROM and Flash. Some types have
circuitry to detect and/or correct random faults called
memory errors in the stored data, using parity bits or error
correction codes. RAM of the read-only type ,ROM, instead
uses a metal mask to permanently enable/disable selected
transistors, instead of storing a charge in them.
ROM
Read-only memory (ROM) is a class of storage media used
in computers and other electronic devices. Because data
stored in ROM cannot be modified, it is mainly used to
distribute firmware In its strictest sense, ROM refers only
to mask ROM (the oldest type of solid state ROM), which is
fabricated with the desired data permanently stored in it,
and thus can never be modified. However, more modern types
such as EPROM and flash EEPROM can be erased and
reprogrammed multiple times; they are still described as
"read-only memory” (ROM) because the reprogramming
process is generally infrequent, comparatively slow, and often
does not permit random access writes to individual memory
locations. Despite the simplicity of mask ROM, economies of
scale and field-programmability often make reprogrammable
technologies more flexible and inexpensive, so mask ROM is
rarely used in new products as of 2007.
Secondary Storage Devices
Secondary storage (or external memory) differs from
primary storage in that it is not directly accessible by the
CPU. The computer usually uses its input/output channels to
access secondary storage and transfers the desired data
using intermediate area in primary storage. Secondary storage
does not lose the data when the device is powered down—it is
non-volatile. Per unit, it is typically also two orders of
magnitude less expensive than primary storage. Consequently,
modern computer systems typically have two orders of
magnitude more secondary storage than primary storage and
data is kept for a longer time there. In modern
computers, hard disk drives are usually used as secondary
storage. The time taken to access a given byte of information
stored on a hard disk is typically a few thousandths of a
second, or milliseconds.
CD (Compact Disk)
CD drives come standard on computer systems today.
High capacity of data is stored on them.
Typically they are between 650 MB to 1 Gigabyte.
A CD drives rotational speed is important because that
determines how fast data can be transferred from the disk.
Data on a CD is written in one continuous stream, similar to a
phonograph record groove.
However, the data stream begins in the center of the disk and
proceeds outwards.
DVD
DVD, also known as Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc,
is an optical disc storage media format.
DVDs are of the same dimensions as CDs, but are capable of
storing more than six times as much data.
DVD-Video and DVD-Audio discs refer to properly formatted
and structured video and audio content, respectively.
Other types of DVDs, including those with video content, may
be referred to as DVD Data discs.
Floppy Disks
Floppy disks are removable storage media. Today’s standard
is 2HD (Double sided, double density) 1.44 MB.
Data recorded in rings called tracks; tracks divided into
wedge-shaped sections called sectors.
Pieces of floppy flat Mylar rotating within a hard plastic
jacket.
The bits of data are represented by the presence or absence
of magnetic charges.
Limited capacity today. Many media files far exceed the
capacity of standard floppy disks.
Pen Drive
USB flash drives are often used for the same purposes
as floppy disks were.
They are typically removable and rewritable, and physically
much smaller than a floppy disk.
They are smaller, faster, have thousands of times more
capacity, and are more durable and reliable because of their
lack of moving parts.
Storage capacities in 2010 can be as large as 256 GB with
steady improvements in size and price per capacity expected.
Some allow 1 million write or erase cycles and have a 10-
year data retention cycle.
Magnetic Tape
Magnetic tape revolutionized broadcast and recording.
When all radio was live, it allowed programming to be pre-
recorded.
At a time when gramophone records were recorded in one take,
it allowed recordings in multiple parts, which mixed and edited
with tolerable loss in quality.
It is a key technology in early computer development, allowing
unparalleled amounts of data to be mechanically created,
stored for long periods, and to be rapidly accessed.
Over years, magnetic tape can suffer from deterioration
called sticky-shed syndrome. Caused by absorption of moisture
into the binder of the tape, it can render the tape unusable.
DVD - R
Pen Drive
Floppy Disk CD - R
Magnetic
Tape