Storage
2.3
Devices
Ch3
Tool Used = Storage Device
Starter
Container = Storage Media
Food = Non-Volatile Data
When you need to store food into
the fridge, does it magically appear
in a container?
Or do you need to use a tool to put
it in the container?
Is the tool you use for storing Soup
the same as Storing Rice?
Is the container you use to store
Soup the same as the rice’s?
Storage Devices
What is a storage device?
• A storage device is the hardware that reads from and
writes to different storage media
• Storage devices are non-volatile secondary storage that
retain digital data within a computer system
• They provide a means of storing, accessing, and retrieving
data, which can include software applications, documents,
images, videos, and more
• There are 3 types of storage devices:
• Magnetic: A non-volatile media that uses magnets (polarity) to store binary
0s and 1s.
• Solid State: A non-volatile media that uses electronic circuits to store binary
0s and 1s.
• Optical: A non-volatile media that uses lasers to burn the surface of a disk,
creating pits and lands suitable for storing binary 0s and 1s.
Magnetic storage
Magnetic storage is a type of non-volatile media that
uses magnets (polarity) to store binary 0s and 1s
Advantages Disadvantage
s
Durability - Moving parts can get
1 Capacity - High storage 1 damaged if dropped
Portability - Heavy & bulky making
2 Cost - Low per gigabyte 2 them less convenient for transport
3 Speed - Moderate read/write access 3 Reliability - Prone to mechanical failure
4 Noise - Loud (spinning disks)
Solid state storage
Solid state storage is a type of non-volatile media that uses electronic
circuits to store binary 0s and 1s
Advantages Disadvantage
s
1 Capacity - Medium/high storage 1 Cost - Very high per gigabyte
2 Speed - Very fast read/write access 2 Reliability - Limited read/write cycles
3 Durability - No moving parts
Portability - Small and no moving
4 parts
5 Noise - Silent
Optical storage
Optical storage is a type of non-volatile media that uses lasers to burn the
surface of a disk, creating pits and lands suitable for storing binary 0s and
1s
Advantages Disadvantage
s
1 Cost - Very low per gigabyte 1 Capacity - Very low
2 Durability - No moving parts 2 Speed - Very slow read/write access
Portability - Small and no moving
3 parts 3 Reliability - Prone to scratches
4 Noise - Silent
Storage Media
What is storage media?
• Storage media is the physical media
that holds non-volatile data
• Storage devices have a specific
read/write mechanism built in to
interact with a particular storage media
• For example, magnetic tape media is
read by a magnetic storage device
Magneti
c
Storage
Media
Hard disk drive (HDD)
Uses:
• General-purpose storage in computers and servers
Advantages
• Large storage capacity (5TB), relatively fast.
Disadvantages
• Moving parts, vulnerable to physical damage
Storage MEDIA: Magnetic
Portable hard disk
drive
Uses:
• External storage for data transfer and backup.
Advantages
• Portable (5TB), large storage capacity.
Disadvantages
• Slower than SSDs, vulnerable to physical
damage.
Storage MEDIA: Magnetic
Magnetic tape
Uses:
• Backup and archiving, especially for large volumes of
data.
Advantages
• High storage capacity (10TB), low cost.
Disadvantages
• Slow access time, sequential access.
Storage MEDIA: Magnetic
Optical
Storage
Media
CD
Uses:
• Audio and data storage, software distribution.
Advantages
• Affordable, widely compatible.
Disadvantages
• Low capacity (700MB), susceptible to
scratches.
Storage MEDIA: Optical
DVD
Uses:
• Higher capacity storage for data, video, and software
distribution.
Advantages
• Higher capacity than CD (8.5GB), affordable.
Disadvantages
• Susceptible to scratches, lower capacity than
Blu-ray.
Storage MEDIA: Optical
Blu-ray
Uses:
• High-definition video and high-capacity data storage.
Advantages
• High capacity (50GB), high-resolution video storage.
Disadvantages
• More expensive, and requires specific
hardware.
Storage MEDIA: Optical
Solid
State
Storage Media
Solid state drive (SSD)
Uses:
• Fast internal storage for modern computers.
Advantages
• Fast access time, no moving parts, high capacity (30TB).
Disadvantages
• More expensive, limited write cycles.
Storage MEDIA: Solid state
Portable solid state
drive
Uses:
• External storage for fast data transfer and backup.
Advantages
• Fast access time, portable, no moving parts, high
capacity (2TB).
Disadvantages
• More expensive, limited write cycles.
Storage MEDIA: Solid state
USB memory stick
Uses:
• Portable data storage and transfer for various devices.
Advantages
• Small size, fast read/write speeds, high capacity (1TB).
Disadvantages
• Limited capacity compared to other storage
devices.
Storage MEDIA: Solid state
Flash memory (SD/XD)
Uses:
• Removable memory cards used in smartphones/digital
cameras.
Advantages
• Small size, fast read/write speeds, high capacity (1TB).
Disadvantages
• Easy to lose due to size, expensive per GB
compared to HDD.
Storage MEDIA: Solid state
ClassWork
A program collects a large amount of data and this could
be stored using either a fixed solid-state drive (SSD) or
cloud storage.
a. Describe four advantages to the school of using cloud
storage rather than using the SSD
[4]
b. b. Describe three disadvantages to the school of using
cloud storage rather than using the SSD
[3]
ClassWork Answer
A program collects a large amount of data and this could be stored
using either a fixed solid-state drive (SSD) or cloud storage.
a. Describe four advantages to the school of using cloud storage
rather than using the SSD [4]
The cloud has greater storage capacity [1]
The data could be sent directly to/from the cloud from any
computer/device [1]
Storage capacity can be increased without adding additional physical
devices [1]
Many people can share the data [1]
The school would only pay for the storage used [1]
ClassWork Answer
A program collects a large amount of data and this could be stored using
either a fixed solid-state drive (SSD) or cloud storage.
b. Describe three disadvantages to the school of using cloud storage
rather than using the SSD [3]
More security issues as multiple copies of the data are stored
[1]
The school loses control over the storage of the data [1]
Cloud storage has an ongoing cost [1]
Users must have a reliable internet connection to store data
[1]
Users must have an internet connection to access data [1]