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Primary Storage Is Directly Accessible by The Processor - Memory

Primary storage like RAM and ROM is directly accessible by the CPU, while secondary mass data storage (MDS) like tapes, disks, and optical disks is not directly accessible and requires data transfer to primary memory. Common types of MDS include punched cards and tapes, magnetic disks and tapes, and optical disks. The document compares various MDS types based on their size/capacity, advantages, and disadvantages.

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Sharat Parag B
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41 views4 pages

Primary Storage Is Directly Accessible by The Processor - Memory

Primary storage like RAM and ROM is directly accessible by the CPU, while secondary mass data storage (MDS) like tapes, disks, and optical disks is not directly accessible and requires data transfer to primary memory. Common types of MDS include punched cards and tapes, magnetic disks and tapes, and optical disks. The document compares various MDS types based on their size/capacity, advantages, and disadvantages.

Uploaded by

Sharat Parag B
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Primary Storage: Memory

• Primary storage is directly accessible by the


processor
• Memory:
– RAM = random access memory
– ROM = read only memory
– PROM/EPROM = programmable ROM
• RAM is volatile (not retained w/o power)
• cache, interrupts, memory, flags…
Secondary: Mass Data Storage
• primary storage is directly accessible by the
CPU (RAM, cache memory)
• secondary storage is not directly accessed
• data is transferred to primary memory when
needed by processor
• MDS is non-volatile - record and modify
information (semi-)permanently
Types of MDS
1. Punched surfaces
- earliest method; human readable
- punched cards, punched tape
2. Magnetic surfaces
- most widely used
- streaming tape, magnetic disks (floppy, hard, zip…)
3. Optical surfaces
- most durable
- optical disks (CD-ROM, laserdisc, DVD…)
Comparisons of MDS types
media: size/capacity: advantages: disadvantages:

Floppy 3.5” = 720KB, 1.44MB, 2.88 inexpensive; slow;


5 ¼” = 360, 720KB (old) shareable effected by
8” = 180, 360KB (old) magnetic fields,
dirt, temp;
corruptible
Hard ¼, half & full height, fastest not usually
51/4”, 8” portable;
= 5MB… 100+GB? not expandable

Optical CD = 4.5” = massive capacity, read only


80-650MBdata/74minAudio high reliability,
Laser = 8”,12” portability,
DVD = 3.8 - 17GB data & audio standard

Removable Clik = 25 - 40MB faster & more capacity slower than hard;
Zip = 100-250MB than floppies; more expensive
Jaz = 500M - 2GB read/writeable than floppies
SuperDisk (3M - Imation)
=120MB
Magneto- combination of technologies reliable; expensive;
optical MO high capacity not as fast

Flash Memory solid state storage; no moving parts, very expensive;


(newest) memory sticks; flashcards rewritable no standard yet

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