Storage devices : Primary

Saturday, December 4, 2021 12:33 PM

Primary Storage
1. ROM - Read Only Memory
1. This memory is non-volatile/permanent in nature
2. ROM is used to store the start-up procedures(data which the computer needs to access when
powering up for the first time - 'booting' process)e.g. BIOS - Basic Input/Output System
3. The memory can only be read from and NOT written to

1. RAM - Random Access Memory

▪ This memory is volatile/temporary in nature (the contents of the memory are lost when
the power is turned off)
▪ RAM stores data, programs or part of the operating system currently in use.
▪ The memory can be read from or written to.

Note: the larger the size of RAM, the faster the computer operates.

(the whiteboard metaphor)

data storage 2022 Page 1
 (the whiteboard metaphor)

How?
As more data is stored, the computer continues to operate at a gradually slower pace. When
the RAM is 'full', the processor has to continually access the secondary data storage devices to
overwrite old data on RAM with new data.
A larger RAM size will reduce the number of times these access operations must be done; thus,
faster computer operations.

Types of RAM Dynamic ram (DRAM) Static RAM (SRAM)

technology

Hardware The chip consists of millions of transistors (acts like a switch; allows the This chip makes use of ‘flip-flops’ to
specifications chip control circuitry to read the capacitor or change the capacitor’s hold each bit of memory.
value) and capacitors (holds the bits of information).
How it works? It needs to be constantly refreshed to retain the data (that is, the The ‘flip-flops’ retain the data; no
capacitor must be recharged otherwise it would lose its value). need for refresh.
Advantages ○ Less expensive to manufacture ○ Faster data access
○ Less power consumption
○ Higher storage capacity
** refer to MEMORY CACHE as
high-speed portion of memory

Application:

A remote-controlled toy car has a circuitry which contains both RAM and ROM chips. The remote control is a
hand-held device.

We will consider the function of each type of memory independently:

○ ROM
▪ stores the factory settings such as remote control frequencies
▪ stores the 'start-up routines when the toy car is first switched on
▪ stores the set routines; for example, how the buttons on the hand-held device control turning left,
acceleration, stopping, and so on.

○ RAM
▪ the user may wish to program in their own routines; these new instructions would be stored in the RAM
chip
▪ the RAM chip will store the data/instructions received from the remote control unit.

data storage 2022 Page 2

ACTIVITY:
○ A remote-controlled model aeroplane uses RAM and ROM. The remote control frequency is set at the manufacturing stage and shouldn't
be altered. The operator can change flight manoeuvres, for example, by entering new instructions from a touch screen interfac e.
Explain the use of RAM and ROM in this model aeroplane. Describe, with reasons, a suitable storage device to store the operat or's
instructions for later use.

data storage 2022 Page 3

Secondary Storage
Saturday, December 4, 2021 12:34 PM

Comparing the 2 : SSDs vs Hard Drives as Fast As Possible

1. HDD - Hard Disk Drive

1. Hard disk drives use circular platters coated in magnetic material.

Data is stored in a digital format on the magnetic surfaces of the
disks. Several read-write heads are used so that all the surfaces can
be accessed.

2. Data is stored in sectors and tracks in blocks.

Note: a sector on a track will contain a fixed number of bytes!

data storage 2022 Page 4

 3. Access to data is slower than with RAM. Many applications require
the read-write heads to move in and out several times to seek the
appropriate data blocks. This is referred to as latency - the time taken
for a specific block of data on a track to rotate around to the read-
write head.
Users may notice the effect of latency when they see messages like
'please wait' or 'not responding'.

1. SSD - Solid State Drive

○ Solid-state drives have no moving parts; therefore all data is retrieved

at the same rate and latency is not an issue.

Types of FLASH EEPROM (Electronically Erasable

technology (most common) Programmable Read Only
used Memory)
Hardware Made of NAND chips to control Use NOR chips
specificatio the movement of electrons
ns (and therefore data) • Allows data to be read or
• Allows data to be read or erased in single bytes at a
erased by blocks. time
○ Faster in operation
○ More expensive

There are a number of advantages in using SSDs when compared to HDDS:

○ They are more reliable (no moving parts to go wrong)
○ They are considerably lighter and thinner
○ They don't have to 'get up to speed' before they work properly
○ Lower power consumption
○ Run much cooler than HDDs
○ Data access is faster than HDD

The main drawback of SSD:

○ Not suitable in situations where huge number of write operations
take place on a regular basis, like in servers. ( less durable than
HDDs)

data storage 2022 Page 5

Offline Storage
Saturday, December 4, 2021 12:35 PM

Note:
• Optical media/storage devices: Make use of laser light to read and write data in the surface of the disk.
• Solid-state storage devices: Make use of different chips to control the electron movement (no moving parts),
to read and write data.
• Magnetic storage devices: Make use of the magnetic property of the storage material to read and write data
into the disk platters.

1. Optical storage devices

1. CD/DVD

• Use red laser light to read/write data in the disk surface

• CDs and DVDs use a thin metal alloy or light-sensitive organic dye to store the data.
• The data is stored in 'pits' and 'bumps' on a single spiral track, which runs from the centre of the disk to the
edge.

data storage 2022 Page 6

• Designations:
○ R:
▪ Read Only : write once only
○ RW:
▪ Read-Write: can be written to or read from many times.

• DVD technology
○ DVDs use smaller 'pits' and 'bumps' to store data. Because of the smaller size of the tracks, there are more
of them , thus more data can be stored.( DVDs use a laser with a wavelength of 650 nanometres as
compared to CDs that use a wavelength of 780 nanometres).
the shorter the wavelength of the laser light, the greater the storage capacity of the medium.

• DVDs can use DUAL-LAYERING which considerably increases the storage capacity as compared to single layer
CDs.
○ There are 2 individual recording layers (that are separated by a transparent spacer and reflector).
○ ISSUE: using 2 sandwiched layers can cause BIREFRINGENCE (light is refracted into 2 separate beams
causing reading errors.)

• Blu-ray disks

• Uses blue laser light to read/write data in the disk surface (uses wavelength of 405 nm compared to 650 nm for
red laser light.
• This also means we can have even smaller 'pits' and 'bumps', to store more data (about 5 times more than
normal DVDs)
• Uses single polycarbonate layer, that is, a single recording layer (no problem of birefringence)
• Blu-ray disks automatically come with a secure encryption system which helps to prevent piracy and copyright
infringement.

2. DVD-RAM

data storage 2022 Page 7

 2. DVD-RAM

They use a very different technology to CDs and DVDs.

• Instead of single spiral track, they use a number of concentric tracks.
○ This allows simultaneous read and write operations to take place.

• Why use DVD-RAMs?

○ They allow numerous read-write operations
○ Have great longevity which makes them ideal for archiving

Note:

• Cloud storage: data is accessible from anywhere at anytime, provided the user has a computer and internet
connection.
• 'Online streaming' / 'on demand'

2. Solid state storage devices

1. USB flash memories/Memory sticks (pen drives)

• They use solid state technology

• They are usually connected through the USB port to a computer
• Advantage:
○ Small , Lightweight which makes them suitable for use as small back-up devices or even to transfer files
between computers.

• Memory sticks can be used as DONGLES; these contain additional files which are needed to run some
complex/expensive software. Without the dongle, the software won't work properly.
○ Application: use of dongles prevents illegal or unauthorised use of the software + prevents the copying of
the software, since without the dongle, it is useless.

1. SD-XD cards
• XD- exTreme digital, SD- Secure Digital cards
• Used in digital cameras…

• The memory cards allow data to be transferred from a computer to another:

○ Via USB port
○ Some computers/devices have card slots that allows the reading of the cards directly.
• Each memory card is made up of NAND chips (refer to Flash memories in SSD)

Precautions for solid state devices:

• Data on the memory card/sticks can become corrupted or the card can become unusable, if removed before
made safe.
• It is essential to wait for the message: 'It is now safe to remove your device' before plugging it out.
• With mobile phones and digital cameras, it is advisable to switch off the device before taking out the card.

data storage 2022 Page 8

 3. Magnetic storage device

Removable hard disk drive

• Can be connected to a computer using USB cable
• Used as back-up device /to transfer files

data storage 2022 Page 9