SECONDARY OR AUXILIARY
STORAGE/ MEMORY UNIT
Learning Objectives
• Differentiate storage device and storage media
• Recognize the terminologies used in identifying computer storage
specifications
• Describe the characteristics of hard disk
• Describe the characteristics of optical discs
Memory vs. Storage
• Memory consists of electronic components that store instructions
waiting to be executed and the data needed by those instructions.
• Storage, by contrast, holds data, instructions, and information for
future use. For example, computers can store hundreds or millions of
student names and addresses permanently.
Storage media vs. Storage device
• Storage media is where computer keeps data, instruction and
information
• A storage device records (writes) and/or retrieves (reads) items to and
from storage media.
Hard Disks
• Hard Disks A hard disk is a
storage device that
contains one or more
inflexible, circular platters
that use magnetic
particles to store data,
instructions, and
information.
Hard disk characteristic
• Characteristics of a hard disk
include its capacity, platters,
read/write heads, cylinders,
sectors and tracks,
revolutions per minute,
transfer rate, and access time.
External vs. Removable Hard Disks
• An external hard disk, is a separate
freestanding hard disk that connects
with a cable to a USB port or FireWire
port on the system unit or
communicates wirelessly
• Removable hard disk is a hard disk that
you insert and remove from a drive
Network Attached Storage Miniature Hard Disks A disk controller consists of a
(NAS) device is a server These tiny hard disks have special-purpose chip and
connected to a network with form factors of 1.8 inch, 1 electronic circuits that control
the sole purpose of providing inch, and 0.85 inch. the transfer of data,
storage instructions, and information
from a disk to and from the
system bus and other
components in the computer.
Solid State Drive (SSD) is a storage
device that typically uses flash
memory to store data,
instructions, and information Memory card is a removable flash memory device, usually no
bigger than 1.5 inches in height or width, that you insert and
remove from a slot in a computer, mobile device, or card
reader/writer
USB flash drive, sometimes called
a thumb drive, is a flash memory
storage device that plugs in a USB
port on a computer or mobile
device
Cloud storage is an Internet service that provides storage to
computer users
Optical Discs is a type of storage media that consists of a flat, round, portable disc made of metal,
plastic, and lacquer that is written and read by a laser.
Tape is a magnetically coated ribbon of Magnetic stripe card is a credit card, entertainment
plastic capable of storing large amounts card, bank card, or other similar card, with a stripe
of data and information at a low cost. that contains information identifying you and the
card
Microfilm and Microfiche
Microfilm and microfiche
store microscopic images of
documents on roll or sheet
film. Microfilm is a 100- to
215-foot roll of film.
Microfiche is a small sheet
of film, usually about 4 3 6
inches. A computer output
microfilm recorder is the
device that records the
images on the film.
Discussion
• How Are Storage Devices Different from Storage Media?
• What Are the Characteristics of an Internal Hard Disk?
• What Is Cloud Storage, and What Are Its Advantages?
• What Are the Various Types of Flash Memory Storage?
