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Storage Devices

The document outlines the characteristics and uses of RAM and ROM, highlighting that ROM is non-volatile and contains essential boot instructions, while RAM is volatile and stores data currently in use. It also discusses virtual memory as an extension of RAM and compares various storage devices, including optical, magnetic, and solid-state storage, noting their advantages and disadvantages. Key points include the durability and speed of solid-state storage, the cost-effectiveness of optical disks, and the mechanisms of magnetic storage.

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griggs.sophie.r
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6 views

Storage Devices

The document outlines the characteristics and uses of RAM and ROM, highlighting that ROM is non-volatile and contains essential boot instructions, while RAM is volatile and stores data currently in use. It also discusses virtual memory as an extension of RAM and compares various storage devices, including optical, magnetic, and solid-state storage, noting their advantages and disadvantages. Key points include the durability and speed of solid-state storage, the cost-effectiveness of optical disks, and the mechanisms of magnetic storage.

Uploaded by

griggs.sophie.r
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Objectives

• Describe the characteristics and uses of RAM and ROM


• Understand virtual storage
• Describe the uses of magnetic, ash and optical storage devices

Two main types of memory:


RAM and ROM

Read-Only Memory (ROM):


small piece of read-only memory located on the motherboard
• non-volatile
• Contains the bootstrap - the rst initial instructions
• Firmware
• Can only read the data not write

The rst initial instructions perform a power-on self-test (POST)


• sends signals to all connected. Opponents, waked the up and makes the CPU aware of their existence
• As the computer is now aware of the hard drive, it can load the operating system into RAM.
• The process of booting up your operating system can now begin

Random Access Memory (RAM):


A temporary storage of instructions and data / information currently being used or executed by the
processor
Contains:
• the operating system
• Running programs
• Data currently bing used

• Volatile
• You can read and write data

Much faster than the hard disk

Virtual Memory:
Virtual memory is part of the hard drive used as an extension to RAM

Optical Storage Devices:


All optical storage devices work by processing the re ections made when light is shined on them

(+)
• cheap
• Lightweight
• Portable

(-)
• slow access times
• Prone to scratches
Magnetic Storage:
The information is held in the platters
Information is read and written using an actuator arm.
The platter is split into tracks and each track is split into sectors.

Concentric tracks are created on a magnetic disk


Disk spins at high speed: 3,600 - 7,200rpm.
Spinning platters are each read by drive heads
-> data is read or written as sector moves under the head.
• Will fail eventually

Solid-state/ ash storage:


(+) durable, fast access ties
(-) cost, limited read/writes.

Commonly uses electrically programmable non-volatile ash memory

(+) more durable (no moving parts so can survive drops, extreme heat and cold and extreme pressure)
Faster than hard disk drives
Consume less power more portable

(-) typically less capacity than a hard disk


More expensive than hard disk drives

USB ash drives


• can store up to 128GV of data
• Prices start at under 5pounds
• Can use password protection
• Useful for transferring data between computers.

CDs, DVDs and BluRay:


Di erent laser wavelengths burn smaller pits
The spiral track can therefore be more tightly wounds, creating a longer track.

Optical disks are available as: read only, recordable and re-writable formats

Software mailing:
• often best sited to optical disks
• Cheap to manufacture and distribute
• Robust during carriage
• Lightweight

CD Formats:

CD-ROM: is ‘pressed’ at time of manufacture, read-only


CD-R: ca be written to once, recordable
CD-RW: cab be written, read many times, erased and written again, rewritable

CD-ROM is widely used for software distribution


CD-R any be used for copying a game, software, audio or video les or documents. These can then easily
be stored o ine
CD-RW is useful for short or medium-term backup, or transferring les from one computer to another
DCD and BluRay are high-capacity discs which can store feature-length lms.
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