3.

3 Storage devices
Alam Zeb Computer Teacher
3.3 Data Storage
➢All computers require some space in the form of
memory and storage.
➢Primary Memory is usually referred to as the internal
devices used to store data that the computer can
access directly.
➢This memory can be the user’s workspace, temporary
data or data that is key to running the computer.
➢E.g. RAM, ROM, Cache, Registers
3.3 Data Storage
➢Storage devices allow users to store applications, data
and files permanently
➢Storage needs to be larger than internal memory
since the user may wish to store large files (such as
music files or videos).
➢Storage devices may be fixed like Hard Disk and SSD
or removable like compact disks and flash.
➢Removable devices allow portability of data.
3.3 Data Storage
3.3.1 RAM
➢Random access memory (RAM) All computer systems come with some
form of RAM.
➢When you run an application or program, data is retrieved from secondary
storage and placed temporarily into RAM.
➢Access time to locate data is much faster in RAM than in secondary or off-
line devices.
➢Features of RAM include:
❑ can be written to or read from, and the data can be changed by the user or
the computer
❑used to store data in use, files, part of an application or part of the operating
system currently in use
❑ it is volatile, which means memory contents are lost when powering off the
computer
3.3.1 RAM
➢In general, the larger the size of RAM the faster the computer will
operate.
➢There are currently two types of RAM technology:
❖ dynamic RAM (DRAM)
❖ static RAM (SRAM).
 Dynamic RAM (DRAM
➢Each DRAM chip consists of millions of transistors and capacitors.
➢capacitor holds the bits of information (0 or 1)
➢transistor acts like a switch; it allows the chip control circuitry to read the
capacitor or change the capacitor’s value.
➢This type of RAM needs to be constantly refreshed (that is, the capacitor
needs to be re-charged every 15 microseconds otherwise it would lose its
value).
➢advantages over SRAMs:
✓they are much less expensive to manufacture than SRAM
✓they consume less power than SRAM
✓they have a higher memory capacity than SRAM
 Static RAM (SRAM
➢SRAM doesn’t need to be constantly refreshed. It makes use of flip flops,
which hold each bit of memory.
➢SRAM is much faster than DRAM when it comes to data access (typically,
access time for SRAM is 25nanoseconds and for DRAM is
60nanoseconds).
➢DRAM is the most common type of RAM used in computers, but where
absolute speed is essential, for example, in the CPU’s memory cache,
SRAM is the preferred technology.
➢Memory cache is a high-speed portion of the memory; it is effective
because most programs access the same data or instructions many times.
 DRAM vs SRAM
➢
 Read-only memory (ROM)
➢They are non-volatile
➢They are written by manufacturers
➢they store powering up data (the basic input/output system (BIOS));
these are known as the start-up instructions (or bootstrap)
ROM vs RAM
 Application of ROM and RAM
➢A remote-controlled toy car has circuitry which contains both RAM and
ROM chips
➢ROM
» storing the factory settings such as remote control frequencies
» storing the ‘start-up’ routines when the toy car is first switched on
» storing of the set routines; for example, how the buttons on the hand-held device
control turning left, acceleration, stopping, and so on.
➢RAM
» the user may wish to program in their own routines; these new instructions would be
stored in the RAM chip
» the RAM chip will store the data/instructions received from the remote control unit.
 Application of ROM and RAM
➢Activity 3.6 1
Describe how ROM and RAM chips could be used in the following devices:
1. a microwave oven
2. a refrigerator
3. a remote-controlled model aeroplane; the movement of the aeroplane is controlled
by a hand-held device
 3.3.2 Secondary and off-line storage
➢Secondary (and off-line) storage includes storage devices that
are not directly addressable by the CPU.
➢They are non-volatile devices.
➢This type of storage can store more data than primary memory
➢Their data access time is considerably longer than with RAM or
ROM.
➢All applications, the operating system, device drivers and
general files (for example, documents, photos and music) are
stored on secondary storage.
 3.3.3 Magnetic, optical and solid-state storage

➢Secondary (and off-line) storage falls into three categories :

1. magnetic
2. solid state
3. optical.
 Magnetic storage Hard Disk Drives (HDD)
➢Hard disk drives (HDD) are still one of the most common storage device.
➢ Data is stored in a digital format on the magnetic surfaces of the disks
➢HDD has number of platters that can spin at about 7000 times a minute
➢ Read-write heads can access all of the surfaces of the platters in the disk
drive.
➢Normally each platter will have two surfaces to store data.
➢These read-write heads can move from the center of the disk to the edge
of the disk (and back again) 50 times a second.
 Magnetic storage Hard Disk Drives (HDD)
➢Data is stored on the surface in sectors and tracks.
➢A sector on a given track will contain a fixed number of bytes.
➢Time taken by read-write heads to constantly look for the correct blocks
of data is called seek time.
➢Latency is defined as the time it takes for a specific block of data on a
data track to rotate around to the read-write head.
Magnetic storage Hard Disk Drives (HDD)
 Solid state drives SSD
➢Solid state drives (SSD) solved the issue of latency as they have no
moving parts and all data is retrieved at the same rate.
➢They store data by controlling the movement of electrons within NAND
or NOR chips
➢The data is stored as 0s and 1s in millions of tiny transistors making non-
volatile rewritable memory.
➢SSD using NOR instead of NAND are faster and allow read/write
operations simultaneously but they are expensive than NAND
 Advantages of Solid state drives SSD
➢The main benefits of this newer solid state technology over hard disk
drives are:
➢they are more reliable (no moving parts to go wrong)
➢they are considerably lighter (which makes them suitable for laptops)
➢they don’t have to ‘get up to speed’ before they work properly
➢they consume less power
➢they run much cooler than HDDs
➢data access is considerably faster than HDD
 Disadvantages of Solid state drives SSD
➢The main drawback of SSD is still the longevity of the technology. Most
solid state storage devices are conservatively rated at only 20GB of write
operations per day over a three year period – this is known as SSD
endurance. For this reason, SSD technology is still not used in all servers.
➢It is also not possible to over-write existing data on a flash memory
device; it is necessary to first erase the old data and then write the new
data at the same location.
 Optical Storage Devices
Media Light Single Spiral Wave Disk Track Capacity
Track length construction Pitch
of light
CD Red Yes 780 nm Single 1.2 mm 1.6 750 MB
µm
DVD ROM Red Yes 650 nm Two 0.6 mm 0.74 4.7 GB
layers µm

DVD RAM Red No, it uses 650 nm Two 0.6 mm 0.74 4.7 GB
concentric tracks layers µm

Blu-ray Blue Yes 405 nm Single 1.1 mm 0.30 >100 GB

µm
Similarities and Differences between HDD and SSD
Why SSDs replace HDDs?
Why many web servers still use HDDs?
 Identify storage devices
Storage Device Description

CD Non-Volatile memory, can be read only, not written to.

Blu-Ray Disc Optical storage media that allows huge storage, uses blue laser.

RAM Volatile memory holding part of operating system, programs and data in use

DVD Optical storage, uses single spiral track and dual-layer technology, stores large data

SSD Device that stores data by controlling the movement of electrons with a micro chip, having no
moving parts

DVD RAM Optical media that uses concentric tracks allowing writing and reading to take place at same time.
State the role of RAM, ROM and SSD in mobile device

RAM holding part of operating system, programs and data in use

ROM To store firmware, bootup instructions, BIOS
SSD To store user’s data and softwares permanently

Give reasons why SSD rather than HDD is used in mobile devices
HDD VS SSD
Secondary VS Offline storage
 3.3.4 Virtual memory
✓ If the amount of available RAM is exceeded due to multiple programs running,
it is likely to cause a system crash.
✓ This can be solved by utilising the hard disk drive (or SSD) if we need more
memory. This is the basis behind virtual memory.
✓ Virtual memory is RAM + swap space on the hard disk or SSD.
✓ Virtual memory moves the oldest data out of RAM into the HDD/SSD to allow
program new program to gain access to RAM.
✓ 32-bit ‘map’ is updated to reflect the new situation
✓ Virtual memory gives the illusion of unlimited memory being available. Even
though RAM is full, data can be moved in and out of the HDD/SSD to give the
illusion that there is still memory available.
✓ In computer operating systems, paging is used by memory management to
store and retrieve data from HDD/SSD and copy it into RAM. A page is a fixed-
length consecutive (or contiguous) block of data utilised in virtual memory
systems.
3.3.4 Virtual memory
 3.3.4 Virtual memory
The main benefits of virtual memory are:
» programs can be larger than physical memory and still be executed » there is no
need to waste memory with data that isn’t being used (e.g. during error handling)
» it reduces the need to buy and install more expensive RAM memory (although
as mentioned earlier there are limits to the value of doing this).
disk thrashing:
more and more data needs to be swapped in and out of virtual memory
leading to a very high rate of hard disk read/write head movements; this
is known as disk thrashing.
thrash point:
A point can be reached when the execution of a process comes to a halt
since the system is so busy moving data in and out of memory rather
than doing any actual execution – this is known as the thrash point.
 3.3.5 Cloud storage
Cloud storage is a method of data storage where data is stored on
remote servers.
data redundancy:
The same data is stored on more than one server in case of
maintenance or repair, allowing clients to access data at any time. This is
known as data redundancy.
Types of cloud Storage:
» Public cloud – this is a storage environment where the customer/client
and cloud storage provider are different companies
 3.3.5 Cloud storage
» Private cloud – this is storage provided by a dedicated environment
behind a company firewall; customer/client and cloud storage provider
are integrated and operate as a single entity
» Hybrid cloud – this is a combination of the two above environments;
some data resides in the private cloud and less sensitive/less
commercial data can be accessed from a public cloud storage provider.
 Table 3.12 Benefits and drawbacks of cloud storage
Benefits of using cloud storage Drawbacks of using cloud storage
files stored on the cloud can be accessed at any time if the customer/client has a slow or unstable internet
from any device anywhere in the world provided connection, they would have many problems accessing
internet access is available or downloading their data/files

there is no need to carry an external storage device or costs can be high if large storage capacity is required; it
even use the same computer to store and retrieve can also be expensive to pay for high download/upload
information data transfer limits with the customer/client internet
service provider (ISP)

the cloud provides the user with remote back-up of the potential failure of the cloud storage company is
data alleviates data loss always possible – this poses a risk of loss of all back-up
data

if a customer/client has a failure of hard disk or backup

device, cloud storage will allow recovery of their data
the cloud system offers almost unlimited storage
capacity
 3.3.4 Virtual memory
Activity 3.7
1. Name two types of memory used in a mobile phone. For each named memory, describe its purpose in the
mobile phone:
There is RAM (Random Access Memory) to hold current apps and their data in use
and ROM (Read only Memory) to store Operating system and user’s permanent data.
2. a Explain what is meant by virtual memory. (Slides 30,31,32)
b Five programs are currently being run in a computer. Program 1 is using 10GiB of RAM, program 2 is using
5GiB of RAM, program 3 is using 12GiB of RAM and program 4 is using 4GiB of RAM. The programs are at the
stage where program 5 now needs to access RAM, but RAM is presently full (RAM has a 32GiB maximum
capacity). Explain how virtual memory could be used to allow program 5 to access RAM without any of the data
from the other four programs being lost.
Ans:
Virtual memory now moves the oldest data out of RAM into the HDD/SSD to allow program 5 to gain access to
RAM.
 3.3.4 Virtual memory
Activity 3.7
3. Five descriptions of computer terms are shown on the left and five terms are shown on the right. Draw lines to connect each description to the
correct computer term.
 3.3.4 Virtual memory
Activity 3.7
4 a Give four differences between RAM and ROM chips (Done on SLIDE 11)
b Give an example of the use of each type of memory.
Solid State devices control the movement of
electrons within NAND or NOR chips.
The device is made up of a Matrix and at each
intersection on the matrix there is a floating gate
and a control gate.

Electrons are attracted towards transistors when a

voltage is applied.
5b. Give three advantages of using SSD, rather than HDD, which make SSD
technology particularly suitable for use in laptop computers. (Slide 20)
5c. Describe one disadvantage of solid state technology (Slide 21)