Data Storage

BY MS. UZMA FAYYAZ

 Types of Storage Devices
There are three types of storage devices:
1. Primary / Internal / Main memory
2. Secondary / auxiliary / External memory
3. Offline storage. RAM
ROM

Offline
DVD/CD and DVD-
RAM
Blu –Ray Disc
HDD USB/ Flash memory
SSD (Solid State Drive) Removable HD
 Primary Storage Devices
Primary memory in directly or indirectly connected to the CPU via
memory bus.
Memory buses consists of 2 busses.
1. Address Bus
2. Data Bus.
Primary memory read or write data from/to the file stored in the
secondary storage of computer.

Examples:
RAM
ROM
Cache
 Random Access Memory (RAM)
1. It is volatile in nature so it is also called temporary memory because the
contents of the memory are lost when the power is turned off.
2. It is used to store data or part of operating system that are currently in use.
3. The larger the size of RAM the faster the computer operates. In reality the
RAM never runs out of memory, it continues to operate but just get slower
and slower. As the RAM becomes full, the processor has to continuously
access the hard disk.
4. RAM is much faster to write to or read from than other types of memories
but its main draw back is its volatility.
 Types of RAM
There are currently 2 types of RAM Technologies:

1. Dynamic RAM (DRAM)

2. Static RAM (SRAM)

DRAM
 Types of RAM

The main advantages of DRAM are:

• Simple design
• Speed
• Low cost
SRAM
 SRAM
It retains data bits in its memory as long as power is being supplied.
It uses flip flops which holds each bit of memory.
Unlike DRAM, SRAM does not refresh periodically.
SRAM is much faster than DRAM when comes to data access.
Typically SRAM access time is 25 Nano sec and for DRAM its 60
nanoseconds.
Where absolute speed is essential SRAM is preferred.
Processor memory Cache is a high speed portion of memory so it is
made up of SRAM.
 Advantages of DRAM over SRAM

DRAM are much less expensive to manufacture than

SRAM.
DRAM consumes less power than SRAM.
DRAM have a higher storage capacity than SRAM.
 ROM
The main features of ROM are as follows:
1. They are non volatile.
2. They are often used to store the start up instructions when the computer is first
switched on.
3. Data or contents of a ROM chip can only be read; they cannot be changed.
ROM is classified into 5 main classes:
1. ROM
2. PROM(Programmable Read Only Memory)
3. EPROM(Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory)
4. EEPROM(Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory)
5. Flash Memory
1. PROM(Programmable Read Only Memory):
ROM
Which is programmed with the help of special devices. This ROM creates internal links
with the IC which is inerasable.
2. EPROM(Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory): It enables a device to erase the
data in the ROM. When the ROM is exposed to ultra violet ray for more than 10 minutes,
the stored data is deleted and enables to input new programs. The erasing cycle can
be done 1000 times with an EPROM.
3. EEPROM(Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory): Its very much
similar to EPROM. The main difference is that data is erased electrically where with
EPROM UV ray is used.
4. Flash Memory: It’s the modified version of EEPROM. It is faster than EEPROM and
rewriting and deleting is easy with it.
ROM
 Application of RAM and ROM
A remote control toy car has a circuitry which contains both RAM and ROM chips. Remote
control is a hand held device.
RAM ROM
The user may wish to program in Stores the factory settings such as
their own routines; these new remote control frequencies.
instructions would be stored in
RAM chip.

RAM chip will store the data/ Stores the start-up routines when
instructions received from the the toy car is first switched on.
remote control unit.
Stores the set routines; e.g. how he
buttons on the hand held device
control turning left, acceleration,
stopping etc.
 RAM and ROM

1.Write difference between RAM and ROM.

2.Prepare test on Monday i.e. 22nd Jan 2018

 Secondary Memory
• It differs from primary memory /storage that it is not directly accessible by CPU.

• Data is permanently stored in it that is why it is volatile in nature.

• It is also known as external or auxiliary memory.

• The computer usually uses its Input / Output channels to access secondary storage

and transfers the desired data using intermediate area in primary memory.

Examples:

HDD, SSD, USB flash drive, CD, DVD, Magnetic tape, floppy, Blu-Ray etc
Secondary Memory
Secondary Memory
Secondary Memory

A hard disk stores:

•the operating system
•software applications or programs
•the majority of your data files
 Secondary Memory

Unfortunately HDDs have very slow data access when compared to RAM.
 HDD

 Usually 1-10 platter stacked together to form a

cylinder.
 Made up of glass or ceramic (modern titanium),
that’s why its called hard disk, can not be bent.
 read/write head designated to each platter.
 Each head attached to a single actuator.
 Large amount of storage.
 Access/ write data at extremely fast
or high rate.
 Easily get damage (crash).
HDD
Calculate

 How many read/write heads are

required for a hard disk having 8
platters?
 For
a HD having 4 platters how many
recordable surfaces are there?
 Howmany platters are there with 10
read/write heads?
Secondary Memory
Secondary Memory
Secondary Memory
Secondary Memory
Secondary Memory
 Secondary Memory
• SSD is very small.
• SSD has lower power consumption.

Which make them suitable for laptops.

 Secondary Memory

Disadvantages:
The main disadvantage is the questionable longevity.
Most SSDs are rated at only 20GB write operations per
day over a 3 year period. This is known as SSD
endurance.
 Secondary Memory

Advantages of DRAMs over SRAMs:

•much cheaper to manufacture than SRAM

•consume less power than SRAM

•higher storage capacity than SRAM

HDD vs SSD
Offline Memory
 Offline /storage devices

Definition:

Any storage medium that is non-volatile and whose data cannot be

accessed by the computer once removed from computers is called
offline storage. Off-line storage is used to transport data as well as
backup of data. Offline storage is generally portable in nature and
can be used on different computer systems.
 Offline Storage
Types(Media) of Secondary Storage
Secondary and offline storage is classified
into :
1.Magnetic
2.Optical
3.Solid State
 Offline Storage
Magnetic Optical Solid State
HDD CD USB
Floppy Disk DVD Flash Memory (Thumb
driver)
Zip Disk Hi Def Disc SSD
Magnetic Tape Blu-Ray
Jaz Discs
 Magnetic Storage Devices / Media

 Contains a thin metal plate, coated

on both sides with a magnetic
material.
 The data is stored in the form of tiny
magnetized dots.
 These dots are created, read and
erased using magnetic fields
created by very tiny
electromagnets.
Magnetic Storage
Magnetic Storage
 Solid State Derive

 SSD’s are arguably better than HDD’s as they are much faster and have
no moving parts. All data can be retrieved at the same time. SSD’s use
chips instead of disks. The most common type of SSD has NAND chips.
Benefits
 Much faster than HDD. Chips effectively produce non–volatile rewritable
memory. SSD’s have more secure casing and are less likely to get
damaged if dropped unlike a HDD. SSD’s also use less power than
HDD’s.
Drawbacks
 More expensive in comparison to HDD’s and not as widely use
 Use of xD/SD

Use a Fujifilm or Olympus camera to read your

xD card. These are the only two cameras that
use xD cards. Cameras that use SD cards will
not be able to read the xD card.
 Offline Memory
The main difference between SD memory cards and XD
memory cards pertains to capacity and speed. Generally,
SD memory cards have a greater capacity and faster speed
than XD memory cards. XD cards are smaller in size than SD
cards. XD cards costs more. SD cards use a concept of
wear levelling.

Homework
“Predictive Texting”
Most mobile phones use
predictive texting.
Definition: It’s a technology in
which words are suggested
to the user based upon the
first few characters keyed in.
Wear Levelling”
 Flash memory can only be
written to up to a certain
amount of times before certain
elements fail. Wear levelling is a
system that determines how
much each area has been
written to and places new files
to the areas with the least
amount of wear. This helps
ensure that all the elements are
fairly used before any failure
starts happening.
Optical Storage
Optical Storage

Optical storage includes:

1.CD/ DVD disks
2.USB Flash Memory
3.Removable hard disk drives/external HD
1.
CD/DVDs
Homework

Q1. Define and explain the following terms

“Predictive
Texting”
“wear levelling in SD cards”
Q2. Difference between DVD-ROM and DVD-RAM
1 0
 Advantages
They have greater capacity than CD/DVD
They are more durable than CD/DVD
They have higher data access rate than
CD/DVD
Disadvantages
They are compatible with most DVD
players
They are more expensive than other
type of optical media.
Birefringence occur when light is refracted into 2
separate beams causing reading errors.

Violation
Comparison
DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)
 Memory Stick (USB)

Memory sticks
 A memory stick is a 'pen top' sized USB device and can be used in a similar
way to a floppy disk but it is inserted into the USB port - it is then seen by the
computer as a removable drive. They typically come in sizes from 512MB to 32
GB upwards depending on the price paid.
Advantages
 memory sticks can hold large quantities of data
 they are extremely portable, so the user can take them wherever they go
 they are durable, because they have no moving parts
Disadvantage
 portable storage devices in general are more likely to be lost, stolen or
damaged
 Memory Cards

 A memory card is a stamp-sized USB device and can be used in a similar way to a floppy disk but it is inserted into either a
memory card reader or a USB converter - it is then seen by the computer as a removable drive. They typically come in
sizes from 1 GB to 32 GB upwards, depending on the price paid. There are many available memory card formats, but
since 2010 the SD card became the more favored format.
Advantages
 memory cards can hold large quantities of data
 they are extremely portable so the user can take them wherever they go
 digital accessories such as compact cameras and mobile phones are able to read and write to memory cards allowing
the user to transport large collections of photographs, songs or information with them
 they are durable because they have no moving parts
Disadvantage
 Memory cards, specifically the micro SD card, are the smallest storage devices available. This means they are more likely
to be lost, stolen or damaged.
 All computers do not come with memory card readers built in. Users will often be required to purchase a card reader or
USB converter to view the data on a card.
Q. Is the following statement correct or incorrect?

“I always use CD-ROM’s to save my data”

Tick the correct option
Description CD-ROM DVD-RAM Fixed HD Memory
stick
Storage medium where
data can only be read
and not altered.

Portable medium which

allows transfer of data
between computers

Memory where operating

systems and application
SW are usually stored.

Medium which allows

recording and playback
to occur at the same
time.
Summary