MAHARISHI UNIVERSITY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

MAHARISHI SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

Unit 3: MEMORY SYSTEM

Introduction to storage devices & memory system, Primary Storage,
Secondary storage
Introduction to storage devices
The storage unit is a part of the computer system which is employed to store the information
and instructions to be processed. A storage device is an integral part of the computer
hardware which stores information/data to process the result of any computational work.
Without a storage device, a computer would not be able to run or even boot up. Or in other
words, we can say that a storage device is hardware that is used for storing, porting, or
extracting data files. It can also store information/data both temporarily and permanently.
Types of Computer Memory
1. Primary Memory
2. Secondary Memory
3. Tertiary Memory

1. Primary Memory: It is also known as internal memory and main memory. This is a
section of the CPU that holds program instructions, input data, and intermediate results. It is
generally smaller in size. RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read Only Memory)
are examples of primary storage.
2. Secondary Memory: Secondary storage is a memory that is stored external to the
computer. It is mainly used for the permanent and long-term storage of programs and data.
Hard Disks, CDs, DVDs, Pen/Flash drives, SSD, etc, are examples of secondary storage.
3. Tertiary Memory: Tertiary Memory is a type of Memory that is rarely used in personal
computers and due to this, tertiary memory is not considered to be an important one. Tertiary
memory works automatically without human intervention.

Types of Computer Storage Devices

Now we will discuss different types of storage devices available in the market. These storage
devices have their own specification and use. Some of the commonly used storage devices are:
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1. Primary Storage Devices

2. Magnetic Storage Devices
3. Flash memory Devices
4. Optical Storage Devices
5. Cloud and Virtual Storage
1. Primary Storage Devices
 RAM: It stands for Random Access Memory. It is used to store information that is used
immediately or we can say that it is a temporary memory. Computers bring the software
installed on a hard disk to RAM to process it and to be used by the user. Once, the computer
is turned off, the data is deleted. With the help of RAM, computers can perform multiple
tasks like loading applications, browsing the web, editing a spreadsheet, experiencing the
newest game, etc. It allows you to modify quickly among these tasks, remembering where
you're in one task once you switch to a different task. It is also used to load and run
applications, like your spreadsheet program, answers commands, like all edits you made
within the spreadsheet, or toggle between multiple programs, like once you left the
spreadsheet to see the email. Memory is nearly always actively employed by your computer.
It ranges from 1GB - 32GB/64GB depending upon the specifications. There are different
types of RAM, and although they all serve the same purpose, the most common ones are :
o SRAM: It stands for Static Random Access Memory. It consists of circuits that retain
stored information as long as the power supply is on. It is also known as volatile
memory. It is used to build Cache memory. The access time of SRAM is lower and it
is much faster as compared to DRAM but in terms of cost, it is costly as compared to
DRAM.
o DRAM: It stands for Dynamic Random Access Memory. It is used to store binary
bits in the form of electrical charges that are applied to capacitors. The access time of
DRAM is slower as compared to SRAM but it is cheaper than SRAM and has a high
packaging density.
o SDRAM: It stands for Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory. It is faster
than DRAM. It is widely used in computers and others. After SDRAM was
introduced, the upgraded version of double data rate RAM, i.e., DDR1, DDR2,
DDR3, and DDR4 was entered into the market and widely used in home/office
desktops and laptops.
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 ROM: It stands for Read-Only Memory. The data written or stored in these devices are non-
volatile, i.e, once the data is stored in the memory cannot be modified or deleted. The
memory from which will only read but cannot write it. This type of memory is non-volatile.
The information is stored permanently during manufacture only once. ROM stores
instructions that are used to start a computer. This operation is referred to as bootstrap. It is
also used in other electronic items like washers and microwaves. ROM chips can only store a
few megabytes (MB) of data, which ranges between 4 and 8 MB per ROM chip. There are
two types of ROM:
o PROM: PROM is Programmable Read-Only Memory. These are ROMs that can be
programmed. A special PROM programmer is employed to enter the program on the
PROM. Once the chip has been programmed, information on the PROM can't be
altered. PROM is non-volatile, that is data is not lost when power is switched off.
o EPROM: Another sort of memory is the Erasable Programmable Read-Only
Memory. It is possible to erase the info which has been previously stored on an
EPROM and write new data onto the chip.
o EEPROM: EEPROM is Electrically erasable programmable read-only memory.
Here, data can be erased without using ultraviolet light, with the use of just applying
the electric field.
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2. Magnetic Storage Devices

 Floppy Disk: Floppy Disk is also known as a floppy diskette. It is generally used on a
personal computer to store data externally. A Floppy disk is made up of a plastic cartridge
and secured with a protective case. Nowadays floppy disk is replaced by new and effective
storage devices like USB, etc.
 Hard Disk: Hard Disk is a storage device (HDD) that stores and retrieves data using
magnetic storage. It is a non-volatile storage device that can be modified or deleted n number
of times without any problem. Most computers and laptops have HDDs as their secondary
storage device. It is actually a set of stacked disks, just like phonograph records. In every
hard disk, the data is recorded electromagnetically in concentric circles or we can say track
present on the hard disk, and with the help of a head just like a phonograph arm(but fixed in a
position) to read the information present on the track. The read-write speed of HDDs is not
so fast but decent. It ranges from a few GBs to a few and more [Link] Card: It is a
card in which data is stored by modifying or rearranging the magnetism of tiny iron-based
magnetic particles present on the band of the card. It is also known as a swipe card. It is used
like a passcode(to enter the house or hotel room), credit card, identity card, etc.
 Tape Cassette: It is also known as a music cassette. It is a rectangular flat container in which
the data is stored in an analog magnetic tape. It is generally used to store audio recordings.
 SuperDisk: It is also called LS-240 and LS-120. It is introduced by Imation Corporation and
it is popular with OEM computers. It can store data up to 240 MB.
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3. Flash Memory Devices

It is a cheaper and more portable storage device. It is the most commonly used device to store
data because is more reliable and efficient as compared to other storage devices. Some of the
commonly used flash memory devices are:
 Pen Drive: It is also known as a USB flash drive that includes flash memory with an
integrated USB interface. We can directly connect these devices to our computers and
laptops and read/write data into them in a much faster and more efficient way. These devices
are very portable. It ranges from 1GB to 256GB generally.
 SSD: It stands for Solid State Drive, a mass storage device like HDD. It is more durable
because it does not contain optical disks inside like hard disks. It needs less power as
compared to hard disks, is lightweight, and has 10x faster read and writes speed as compared
to hard disks. But, these are costly as well. While SSDs serve an equivalent function as hard
drives, their internal components are much different. Unlike hard drives, SSDs don't have
any moving parts and thus they're called solid-state drives. Instead of storing data on
magnetic platters, SSDs store data using non-volatile storage. Since SSDs haven't any
moving parts, they do not need to "spin up". It ranges from 150GB to a few more TB.
 SD Card: It is known as a Secure Digital Card. It is generally used with electronic devices
like phones, digital cameras, etc. to store larger data. It is portable and the size of the SD card
is also small so that it can easily fit into electronic devices. It is available in different sizes
like 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, etc.
 Memory Card: It is generally used in digital cameras. printers, game consoles, etc. It is also
used to store large amounts of data and is available in different sizes. To run a memory card
on a computer you require a separate memory card reader.
 Multimedia Card: It is also known as MMC. It is an integrated circuit that is generally used
in-car radios, digital cameras, etc. It is an external device to store data/information.
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4. Optical Storage Devices

Optical Storage Devices is also secondary storage device. It is a removable storage device.
Following are some optical storage devices:
 CD: It is known as Compact Disc. It contains tracks and sectors on its surface to store data. It
is made up of polycarbonate plastic and is circular in shape. CD can store data up to 700MB.
It is of two types:
o CD-R: It stands for Compact Disc read-only. In this type of CD, once the data is
written can not be erased. It is read-only.
o CD-RW: It stands for Compact Disc Read Write. In this type of CD, you can easily
write or erase data multiple times.
 DVD: It is known as Digital Versatile Disc. DVDs are circular flat optical discs used to store
data. It comes in two different sizes one is 4.7GB single-layer discs and another one is 8.5GB
double-layer discs. DVDs look like CDs but the storage capacity of DVDs is more than as
compared to CDs. It is of two types:
o DVD-R: It stands for Digital Versatile Disc read-only. In this type of DVD, once the
data is written can not be erased. It is read-only. It is generally used to write movies,
etc.
o DVD-RW: It stands for Digital Versatile Disc Read Write. In this type of DVD, you
can easily write or erase data multiple times.
 Blu-ray Disc: It is just like CD and DVD but the storage capacity of blu ray is up to 25GB.
To run a Blu-ray disc you need a separate Blu-ray reader. This Blu-ray technology is used to
read a disc from a blue-violet laser due to which the information is stored in greater density
with a longer wavelength.
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5. Cloud and Virtual Storage

Nowadays, secondary memory has been upgraded to virtual or cloud storage devices. We can
store our files and other stuff in the cloud and the data is stored for as long as we pay for the
cloud storage. There are many companies that provide cloud services largely Google, Amazon,
Microsoft, etc. We can pay the rent for the amount of space we need and we get multiple benefits
out of it. Though it is actually being stored in a physical device located in the data centers of the
service provider, the user doesn't interact with the physical device and its maintenance. For
example, Amazon Web Services offers AWS S3 as a type of storage where users can store data
virtually instead of being stored in physical hard drive devices. These sorts of innovations
represent the frontier of where storage media goes.
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Primary Storage
A primary storage device is where the computer temporarily stores the data that is actively using
or working with. It provides quick access to the information the computer needs right now. In
this article, we will discuss primary storage device in detail.
What is Primary Storage?
The primary storage device is where the computer keeps the data it is currently working with. It
is a temporary holding area for the data which computer needs right now different from
secondary storage for long term data storage.
Primary storage is very fast and close to the computer's processor. Common examples are RAM
(temporary workspace) and CPU cache(even faster storage within the CPU itself).
 RAM (Random Access Memory): This Memory is like a temporary workspace memory
for the computer to store and retrieve the information and data very fast.
 CPU Cache: This is an even more faster and the smaller storage area that is part of the
main processor (CPU) himself.
Data in primary storage is lost or get deleted when you turn off the computer. Primary storage
holds information only while the computer is active or only when you are using it.

Need of Primary Storage Device

lets understand some needs of primary storage device.
 Fast Access to Data: Primary storage allows the computer to access data and instructions
extremely quickly. This fast access is crucial for the computer to run programs and do
work efficiently.
 Volatile Storage: Primary storage provides a temporary workspace for the computer
while it has programs and applications open and running. Since it doesn't permanently
store data, it acts as short-term memory.
 Operating System Loading: The operating system, which is the core software a
computer needs to function, is loaded into primary storage when the computer starts up.
This allows the operating system to run.
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 Application Execution: When you open apps and programs, they get loaded into the
primary storage area so the computer can quickly access and run them.
 Data Caching: Frequently used data gets temporarily stored in primary storage as a
cache. This caching allows the computer to rapidly access that cached data instead of
having to retrieve it from slower storage.
 Buffering: Primary storage acts as a buffer between different components like
the CPU and storage devices. This buffering ensures a smooth flow of data between
them.
 Temporary Data Storage: As the computer runs programs, it generates temporary data
files. Primary storage provides space to hold this temporary working data.
 Supporting CPU: The main processor (CPU) relies on primary storage to feed it a steady
stream of data and instructions to carry out its work.
 Enhancing Performance: By providing fast temporary storage, primary memory allows
the overall computer system to operate at peak performance for running tasks.
 Immediate Data Availability: Data in primary storage is immediately available to the
CPU whenever needed, preventing delays in processing.

Types of Primary Storage Devices

Below are some types of primary storage devices.
 Read-Only Memory (ROM) : The ROM holds the instructions that tell the computer
how to start up or "Reboot" when you turn on the computer . The information in ROM
can not be changed and deleted. It is permanent the ROM is used in the computers as well
as the other devices like the smart washing machines.
 Random Access Memory (RAM) : The RAM is the temporary workspace for the
computer to store the data while it is running programs and doing the work. Information
in the RAM goes away when you turn off the computer. RAM allows you to quickly
switch between the different tasks like apps, documents, games and many more things
without losing your progress.
 Flash Memory : The Flash memory can store the data for a very long time even when
there is no power or charging. It is commonly used in the portable USB drives, cameras,
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and the mobile devices to store the files and data. The data remains into the flash memory
until you delete the data.
 Cache Memory : The cache is a very fast small memory area inside the computers
processor (CPU). It holds the data and instructions that are needed frequently so the CPU
can access them so quickly. The cache memory is much faster than the RAM because it is
close to the CPU.

.
Primary Storage Secondary Storage

Primary memory also known as the main and Secondary memory is also Known as the external or
the internal memory. auxiliary memory.

Data is directly accessed by the processing Data is first transferred to the main memory and
unit. then routed to the processing unit.

The primary memory inside the computer use Secondary memory devices like the hard drives and
small chips are called the semiconductor chips CDs/DVDs use magnetic disks or optical disks to
to store the information and data. store data and files for long term.

Information stored is temporary and it can be

Information stored is permanent in secondary
lost or deleted when there is a sudden power
storage unless anyone delete it intentionally.
cut or no electricity.

Data is operated and stored in a uniform The data stored is not uniform in secondary
manner. memory.

Primary memory devices are more expensive Secondary memory devices are less expensive when
than secondary storage devices. compared to primary memory devices.

The nature of parts of primary memory varies. It is a little slow in interacting with a
RAM- volatile. ROM- non-volatile. microprocessor.

Whereas secondary memory can store built amounts

Primary memory has limited storage capacity.
of data in a single unit.
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Secondary storage
Secondary memory, also known as secondary storage, refers to the storage devices and systems
used to store data persistently, even when the computer is powered off. Unlike primary memory
(RAM), which is fast and temporary, secondary memory is slower but offers much larger storage
capacities.
Some Examples of secondary memory include hard disk drives (HDDS), solid-state
drives (SSDS), optical disks (CDS/DVDS), and external storage devices like USB drives.

These devices are essential for long-term data storage and retrieval, providing a means to store
operating systems, applications, and personal files, ensuring that data remains intact even after
the system is turned off.
Use of Secondary Memory
Secondary memory is used for different purposes, but the main purposes of using secondary
memory are:
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 Permanent storage: As we know that primary memory stores data only when the power
supply is on, it loses data when the power is off. So we need a secondary memory to store
data permanently, even if the power supply is off.
 Large Storage: Secondary memory provides large storage space so that we can store
large data like videos, images, audios, files, etc, permanently.
 Portable: Some secondary devices are removable. So we can easily store or transfer data
from one computer or device to another.
Types of Secondary Memory
There are two types of secondary memory:
1. Fixed Devices
2. Removable Devices
3.
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1. Fixed Devices
Fixed devices in secondary memory are storage devices that are permanently installed in
a system and cannot be easily removed, like internal hard drives or solid-state drives
(SSDs). They store data that is always accessible by the system.
Some examples of fixed devices are:
Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
 A Hard Disk Drive (HDD) is a traditional storage device that stores data on
spinning magnetic disks. It's commonly used because it offers large storage space
at a low cost. However, it’s slower than newer storage technologies.
Solid-State Drive (SSD)
 A Solid-State Drive (SSD) is a faster and newer type of storage. It uses flash
memory instead of spinning disks, so it has no moving parts. This makes it more
reliable and much faster for reading and writing data compared to an HDD.
External Hard Drives (If used as a fixed device in some cases)
 Although it’s technically external, if an external hard drive is kept connected to a
device permanently, it may be considered fixed.
Network Attached Storage (NAS)
 Network Attached Storage (NAS) is a storage device that is connected to a
network, allowing multiple users to access and share data. It’s commonly used in
homes and businesses for backing up files and sharing data across different
devices.
2. Removable Devices
Removable devices in secondary memory are storage devices that can be easily
disconnected and used on different systems, like USB drives or external hard drives.
They allow for easy data transfer and backup.
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Some examples of removable devices are:

Optical Discs (CD, DVD, Blu-ray)
 CD (Compact Disc): Holds up to 700 MB of data, often used for music, software,
or small files.
 DVD (Digital Versatile Disc): Can store more data than a CD, typically 4.7 GB
or more, and is commonly used for videos or larger data files.
 Blu-ray Disc: Designed for high-definition video, Blu-ray discs can hold from 25
GB (single layer) to 50 GB (dual layer), making them great for movies and large
files.
USB Flash Drives
 USB Flash Drives are small, portable devices that use flash memory to store data.
They’re commonly used to transfer files between computers or as backup storage.
They are durable, easy to carry, and come in various sizes, ranging from a few
gigabytes to several terabytes.
Magnetic Tapes
 Magnetic Tapes are an older form of storage where data is stored on long, thin
tapes. While they are not commonly used for personal computers anymore, they
are still used for large-scale data storage and archiving because they offer a lot of
space at a low cost.
Flash Memory Cards (SD Cards, MicroSD Cards)
 Flash Memory Cards like SD cards and MicroSD cards are tiny, portable storage
devices used in cameras, smartphones, and other gadgets. They are ideal for
storing photos, videos, and other media files.
External Hard Drives (If used as a removable device)
 While external hard drives can be considered fixed if connected permanently, they
are usually removable and used for backup or transferring large files.
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Cloud Storage
 Cloud Storage is not a physical device but a service that allows you to store your
data online, on servers that you can access over the internet. Popular services
like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive allow users to store, share, and access
their data from anywhere with an internet connection.
Applications of Secondary Memory
 Data Storage & Archiving: Secondary memory stores large volumes of data, such as
documents, photos, videos, and other files, for long-term retention and easy access when
needed.
 Backup & Recovery: It helps protect data by creating backups, ensuring that important
information can be recovered in case of system failures or data loss.
 Software & OS Storage: Secondary memory holds operating systems and software
applications, enabling quick access and smooth execution on computers and devices.
 Media & Content Storage: It is used for storing large media files, including music,
movies, and games, making it easier to organize and access entertainment content.
 Database Management: Secondary memory stores extensive databases, critical for
businesses, research, and education, supporting data retrieval and management.
 Virtual Memory: It enhances system performance by swapping data between the
primary memory (RAM) and secondary memory, allowing the system to handle more
tasks simultaneously.
 Cloud Storage: Cloud storage offers remote, online storage solutions, enabling users to
access files from any device and collaborate easily across locations.
 File Sharing: Through Attached Storage (NAS) or cloud services, secondary memory
facilitates seamless file sharing and access over networks, improving collaboration.
 Gaming: Secondary memory stores video games, downloadable content, and save files,
especially in high-performance external drives and SSDs for quick loading and gameplay.
 Business & Research: It provides secure storage for critical business documents,
research data, and collaborative project files, supporting daily operations and innovation.
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Advantages of Secondary Memory

1. Large storage capacity: Secondary memory devices typically have a much larger
storage capacity than primary memory, allowing users to store large amounts of
data and programs.
2. Non-volatile storage: Data stored on secondary memory devices is typically non-
volatile, meaning it can be retained even when the computer is turned off.
3. Portability: Many secondary memory devices are portable, making it easy to
transfer data between computers or devices.
4. Cost-effective: Secondary memory devices are generally more cost-effective than
primary memory.
Disadvantages of Secondary Memory
1. Slower access times: Accessing data from secondary memory devices typically
takes longer than accessing data from primary memory.
2. Mechanical failures: Some types of secondary memory devices, such as hard disk
drives, are prone to mechanical failures that can result in data loss.
3. Limited lifespan: Secondary memory devices have a limited lifespan and can
only withstand a certain number of read and write cycles before they fail.
4. Data corruption: Data stored on secondary memory devices can become
corrupted due to factors such as electromagnetic interference, viruses, or physical
damage.