Storage Devices

Primary and Secondary

storage

Objectives
Define what primary and secondary storage
are
Explain the difference between primary and
secondary storage
Explain the functions of ROM and RAM
Name the units of storage: bits, bytes,
kilobytes, megabyte, gigabyte, terabyte
List the characteristics of secondary storage
media, such as magnetic tape, magnetic
disk, optical disks, flash memory and USB

Storage
Storage refers to the media and
devices used by a computer to keep
data and instructions available for
immediate or later use:
Storage can be in two categories:
Primary storage and
secondary storage

Primary storage
This consist of two types of memory:
RAM (Random Access Memory)
ROM (Read Only Memory)

A memory chip is an integrated circuit made

out of millions of transistors and capacitors.
Primary storage is a group of chips that
resides on the motherboard.
Data travels a shorter distance from the CPU
to primary storage devices than to
secondary storage.

Primary storage (Continued)

Random Access Memory

(RAM)
RAM is primary storage
that a computer uses to
hold data and
programs temporarily,
while they are being
processed.
RAM is also called
working memory.
It also holds information
that has just been
processed.

Random Access Memory

(RAM)
Programs that are stored in secondary
storage must first be loaded into RAM
before it can be processed. Example
before you can type a letter, listen
music or view a picture, the program
or data must first be loaded into RAM.
Once the program is closed then the
data will disappear if it is not stored in
secondary storage.

Random Access Memory

(RAM)
RAM is volatile programs and data
will disappear from it if the computer
is powered off.

Read Only Memory (ROM)

Computers contain a small amount ofread-only
memory that holds instructions forstarting up the
computer. Unlike RAM, ROM data cannot be written
to it.
It is non-volatile which means once you turn off the
computer the information is still stored in it.
ROM is not only found in computers. Most devices
with electronic components such as microwaves, cell
phones, videos containROMchips

Programmable Read-only memory

(PROM):
PROM is a memory chip on which data can
be written only once. Once a program has
been written onto a PROM, it remains there
forever. Unlike RAM,PROM keeps their data
stored when the computer is turned off.
The difference between a PROM and a
ROM (read-only memory) is that a PROM is
manufactured as blankmemory, whereas a
ROM is programmed during the
manufacturing process.

PROM

EPROM ( Erasable Programmable

read only memory)
EPROM Differs from PROM orROM in
that it canbe erased by exposing it to
strongultraviolet light.
Do you notice the difference in the
graphics ofRAM and those of
ROMand PROM? There is an
areatoprogram and erase the code
for the PROM and EPROM.

EPROM

Electrically Erasable Programmable

Read-Only Memory (EEPROM)

Electrically Erasable Programmable

Read-Only Memory (EEPROM) is a
stable, non-volatile memory storage
system that is used for storing
minimal data quantities in computer
and electronic systems and devices,
such as circuit boards. This data may
be stored, even without a permanent
power source, as device
configuration or calibration tables.

EEPROM

Comparison chart

Units of storage

SECONDARY STORAGE
DEVICES

What are secondary

storage?
Secondary storage, sometimes
calledauxiliary storageorexternal
storage, isnon-volatile storagethat
is not under the direct control of a
computer's central processing unit (
CPU) or does not directly interact
with an application.

Types of secondary storage.

Magnetic Storage
Hard drive
Floppy Disk
Magnetic tape

Optical storage
CD R (Compact Disk Recordable )
CD- Rom (Compact Disk Recordable Read Only
Memory)
CD RW (Compact Disk Recordable Re-writtable)
Blu-ray Discs

Magnetic storage

Optical Storage Disks

Blu ray discs

DVD Discs

To be Continued