Primary storagc refers to the memory areas that the CPU can access quickly. They are mostly volatile (loses
data after power is turned off). E.g. RAM, ROM
Secondaty storage ls non-voLatilc. It is where all data is stored when not in use. E.g. magnetic hard disk
drives, solid state drives, cDs and sD cards. Read/write speeds are much slower compared to primary
storage. ^Je neecl seco^dcryy 5 \-c,\.o.3e ((,Y I o1/1qe-v - le."'^ :fo' a3€ ol dAI h
le.s o,".e( d(+6{
- beco.qse \t r' vro^-volqkle
tlq!3dc8u.Sp ---+ e 1. H DDs.
r This is a type of secondary storage which reads/writes/moves across the medium and changes how
magnetised that part of the medium is. E.g. one level of magnetism will be a t, a second will be a o.
. Hard DiskDrives (HDDS) are used as internal storage in PCs and laptops
o Made up ofa stack of magnetised metal disks spinning
. Data is stored magnetically in small areas called sectors within circular tracks
. read/write heads on a moving arm are used to access sectors on the disk
. Portable HDDs are popular for backing up and transporting large amounts of data
. Although they have moving parts, they are long lasting and reliable. However they can be damaged by
large impacts. fies\ 1, a\iher, f..i1h cctgc^cll1, "e"y ""eliabh,
r E.g. hard disk drives, tape drives 3oocl cor\- (-o-v. S,ze
+ Decent speed
+ Decent reliability
+ Good capacity SSDs
- higher capacity than .... t, , l-\^. Jc^,icq tl'o.t-
+ Good cost for the size - cheaper than SSDs
^\,e
reo'tts['^.l"il'<s deFa
- Lowportability - S\o".o'ccass \it^'^qs *:Uq1-^'
- Low durability te cq.r.se ol-uao^;n1 pcr.,rh.
Solid state
'----
storagb ) e.r\. l^sB,
)
sD &r (cr"c[\.
o This is a type of secondary storage which is made of microchips (switches).The state of the switches
determines if a 1, or o is stored.
. \., Solid State Drives (SSDS) usually are a type of flash memory. No moving parts
. Used for the same purpose as HDDS - internal storage
o Hybrid drives use solid state storage for the OS and programs, and a hard disk for data
o E.g. USB drive, SDcards t \qvY qqicl( fo acce55 dc.'|"^, t\ow P ot-e'"'
+ Good speed hl-
ti3 tt-,Q^3
+ Decent capacity lac cctr+Sr ilr
-tuikd
hrrwrb'ur o{-
+ Good portability V\4S v\o
rq-q.A lw rrle + More durable than HDDS P
o\,rvi
cqcles
Don't need defragmenting
tj r"o",er".)
Good reliability
1[']**,t. quieter than HDD5
--rvr o
n cri iQ
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller harinisaseetharan. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $9.89. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.