Storage Devices

SHAHABUDDIN
MS Scholar, Department of Computer Science, University of Peshawar
 Memory
⚫ Memory is where information is stored and retrieved by the
CPU.
⚫ Memory, also called primary storage, is located physically
close to the CPU to decrease access time, that is, the time it
takes the CPU to retrieve data from memory.
⚫ Memory temporarily holds instructions and data before and
after processing by the CPU.
⚫ Memory access time is often measured in milliseconds, or
one thousandths of a second.
Types of Memory
 Types of Memory
⚫ There are two main types of memory.
⚫ Random Access Memory (RAM): It is the main memory
and allows you to temporarily store commands and data.
The CPU reads data and commands from RAM to perform
specific tasks. RAM is volatile, which means it is available
only while the computer is turned on. The contents of
RAM must be copied to a storage device if you want to
save the data in the RAM.
⚫ Read Only Memory (ROM): It is the memory that retains
its contents even after the computer is turned off. ROM is
nonvolatile, or permanent, memory that is commonly used
to store commands, such as the commands that check
whether everything is working properly.
 Types of RAM

⚫ EDO (Extended Data Out)

⚫ DRAM (Dynamic RAM)
⚫ SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM)
⚫ Although “EDO” RAM is the primary type of RAM,
synchronous dynamic RAM can be accessed faster. RAM
technology has not improved as rapidly as microprocessor
technology and is thus a bottleneck.
 Types of ROM

⚫ ROM (read-only memory)

⚫ PROM (programmable read-only memory)
⚫ EPROM (erasable programmable read-only memory)
 Types of ROM
⚫ In addition to ROM, or read-only memory, programmable ROM and

⚫
erasable programmable ROM exist.
In ROM chips, the contents, or combination of electrical circuit states,
are set by the manufacturer and cannot be changed. States are

⚫
permanently manufactured into the chip.
In PROM, the settings must be programmed into the chip. After they
are programmed, PROM behaves like ROM – the circuit states can’t
be changed. PROM is used when instructions will be permanent, but
they aren’t produced in large enough quantities to make custom chip
production (as in ROM) cost effective. PROM chips are, for example,

⚫
used to store video game instructions.
Instructions are also programmed into erasable programmable read-
only memory. However, the contents of the chip can be erased, and
the chip can be reprogrammed. EPROM chips are used where data
and instructions don’t change often, but nonvolatility and quickness
are needed. The controller for a robot arm on an assembly line is an
example of EPROM use.
Storage Capacity
 Access Methods

⚫ Sequential: records must be retrieved in order

⚫ Devices used are called sequential access storage
devices (SASD)
⚫ Direct: records can be retrieved in any order
⚫ Devices used are called direct access storage devices
(DASDs)
 Secondary Storage Devices
⚫ Secondary storage devices store a larger amount of data or
instructions then does main memory, on a more permanent
basis.
⚫ On a per megabyte basis, secondary storage is also cheaper
than primary storage.
⚫ Secondary storage is also infinitely extendable, unlike main
memory, which is finite.
⚫ Secondary storage is not volatile. Secondary storage is also
more portable than primary storage – that is, it is possible to
remove it from a computer and use the device and its
contents in another .
 Types of Secondary Storage

⚫ Magnetic tapes
⚫ Magnetic disks
⚫ Storage area networks (SAN)
⚫ Optical disks
 Magnetic tapes
⚫ The most commonly used forms of secondary storage
include magnetic tapes, disks, and optical disks.
⚫ Magnetic tape allows only sequential access of data, while
others allow both direct and sequential.
⚫ Magnetic tape is similar in composition to the kind of tape
found in videotapes and audio tapes.
⚫ A plastic film is coated with iron oxide which is magnetized
to represent bits.
⚫ Note that while data existed as electrical in a computer, it
exists as magnetized areas on magnetic tapes and disks.
⚫ A main use of magnetic tape is to backup disk drives.
 Magnetic disks
⚫ Magnetic disks are similar to magnetic tapes in that areas
are magnetized to represent bits.
⚫ However the disks’ read write head can go directly to the
desired record, allowing fast data retrieval.
⚫ Magnetic disks can range from small and portable, such as
diskettes with 1.44MB of storage capacity, to large
capacity fixed hard disks which are more expensive and
less portable.
 Storage Area Network

⚫ A storage area network connects servers and storage devices

in a network to store large volumes of data.
⚫ Data stored in a storage area network can be quickly
retrieved and backed up.
⚫ The use of storage area networks will likely increase in the
near future.
 Optical disks
⚫ The most popular alternative to magnetic storage systems
are optical systems.
⚫ Computers today include at least one form of optical
storage.
⚫ Devices that use lasers to read data from or write data to
the reflective surface of an optical disc.
⚫ The data is read by a laser beam
⚫ Example: CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory)
⚫ The information cannot be changed on a CD-ROM
⚫ CD-R (CD-Recordable) drive can be used to write to CDs.
⚫ A CD-Rewritable disc can be written to multiple times.
 Additional Devices and Media
⚫ Memory cards
⚫ Flash memory
⚫ Expandable storage
 Memory cards

⚫ PC memory cards can be installed in any laptop and

desktop computers.
⚫ The card functions as a hard disk.
⚫ However, the cost per megabyte of storage is higher than
that of hard disks.
 Flash memory
⚫ Flash memory is a non-volatile silicon chip that can be
reprogrammed.
⚫ Although flash memory is very expensive compared to
other types of secondary storage the market for flash
memory is growing.
⚫ For example, flash memory is used to store photos in
digital cameras and to store flight information in airplane
cockpits.
⚫ Flash memory is also used in hand-held computers and
cell phones. We will likely see the market for flash
memory continue to increase.
 Expandable storage

⚫ Expandable storage devices are disk cartridges that can

store large amounts of data, ranging from around 100MB
to several gigabytes.
⚫ Many of us are familiar with zip drives by omega, which
come standard on many desktop computers.