Storage Units

Definition

What is Computer Data Units ?

Computer Data unit is a unit for measuring computer memory.

Memory
Storage Devices use the unit of memory card…
What is bit ?

Most important part in system.

• First we know about what is bit.

• Computer circuit need power of electricity.

• Electricity power mode On and Off

• The on and Off is Bit in electricity.

• Because the computer are store the data in form off electricity.

• In Electricity also called bit.

• Only two value in bit 0 and 1 mean on and off.

What is Nibble ?

This not import unit in computer.

Nibble Storage Unit

Half a byte (four bits) is called a nibble.

What is Byte?

This is import unit in computer.

• Byte Storage unit

• In Computer System are all information mention in byte

format data display on screen.

• Bit or Byte both are different form.

• 1 Byte = 8bits.
Confusion 
Sign
Which is bit and Byte.

b = bit B =

Byte

1024 *
1024 =
2048

2048/8 =
256

2Mb/s =
Octet
This not import unit in computer.

Which is bit and Byte.

in some systems, the term octet is used for an

eight-bit unit instead of byte.

In many systems, four eight-bit bytes or octets form a 32-bit word. In such

systems, instructions lengths are sometimes expressed as full-word (32

Kilobyte
1024 bytes = 1
KB

Note 

A Kilobyte (kb or Kbyte) is approximately a thousand bytes

(actually, 2 to the 10th power, or decimal 1,024 bytes).

Megabyte
1024 kilobyte= 1 MB

Note 

As a measure of computer processor storage and real and virtual me

mory, a megabyte (abbreviated MB) is 2 to the 20th power byte,

or 1,048,576 bytes in decimal notation.

Gigabyte
1024 Megabyte= 1 GB

Note 
A Gigabyte (pronounced Gig-a-bite with hard G’s) is a measure of co

mputer data storage capacity and is “roughly” a billion bytes. A gigab

yte is two to the 30th power, or 1,073,741,824 in decimal notation.

Terabyte
1024 Gigabyte= 1 TB

Note 
A Terabyte is a measure of computer storage capacity and is 2 to the

40th power of 1024 gigabytes.

Petabyte
1024 Terabyte= 1 PB

Note 

A Petabyte (PB) is a measure of memory or storage capacity and is 2

to the 50th power bytes or, in decimal, approximately a thousand

terabytes (1024 terabytes).

Exabyte
1024 Petabyte= 1
EB

Note 
An Exabyte (EB) is a large unit of computer data storage, two to the

sixtieth power bytes. The prefix exa means one billion billion, or on

quintillion, which is a decimal term. Two to the sixtieth power is actually

1,152,921,504,606,846,976 bytes in decimal, or somewhat over a

quintillion (or ten to the eighteenth power) bytes. It is common to say that

an Exabyte is approximately one quintillion bytes. In decimal terms, an

Exabyte is a billion gigabytes.

Zettabyte
1024 Exabyte= 1 ZB

Note 
A Zettabyte (ZB) is equal to one sextillion bytes. It is commo nly
abbreviated ZB. At this time, no computer has one Zettabyte of storage. It
has 1024 Exabytes.
Yottabyte
1024 Zettabyte= 1 YB

Note 
A Yottabyte is equal to one septillion bytes. It is commonly a bbreviated YB.
At this time, no computer has one Zettabyte of storage. It has 1024
Zettabytes.
 Storages Devices

 The purpose of the storage unit of the computer is to store the data
entered before processing and also to store the results after processing.

Physicaldevices used to store programs or data on a temporary or

permanent basis for use in a computer.

• Memory-Data stored in the form of chips.

• Storage-Data stored in tapes or disks.
 0
 Storage 2
Devices:
 A storage device is any
computing hardware that is
used for storing data files
and information.
 It can hold and store the
information both temporarily
and permanently, and can
external or internal to a
computer.
 03
Types of Storage
Devices:
1. Primary storage devices :
 Generally smaller in size
 Temporarily stores data
 Fastest access data speed
2. Secondary storage devices:
 Large storage capacity
 Store data permanently
 They can be both internal and external to the computer
 0
 Primary Storage 4
Devices:
 Primary storage, also known as main storage or memory, is the
area in a computer in which data is stored for quick access by the
computer's processor.

 Typically, Primary storage devices have an instance of all the data and
applications currently in use or being processed.
 0
Types of Primary Storage 5
Devices:
There are Two main types of
Primary Storage Devices.

 RAM (Random Access

Memory)

 ROM (Read Only

Memory)
 0
1. RAM (Random Access 6
Memory)

 Computers store data temporary in

the RAM. It is also known as Main
Memory & Random Access Memory.
 These could be operating instructions,
loose data or content from programs
that are running. When the computer
is switched off, all the data is cleared
from the RAM. So it is known as
Volatile Memory.
RAM can be of two types:

Dynamic RAM (DRAM)

Static RAM (SPRAM)
 DRAM (Dynamic RAM )

 It only holds its data if it is continuously accessed by a refresh circuit.

 Many hundreds of times each second, this circuitry reads and then re-writes
the contents of each memory cell.
 It is slower and more complicated than SRAM.
 It is cheap and take up much less space, typically
¼ the silicon area or SRAM or less.
 It is used in primary storage.
 It takes 120 to 200 nano-second to read from or write into any location.
 SRAM ( Static RAM )

• It is also a volatile storage devices.

• These chips are more complicated and take up more space.
• It is used in specialized applications.
• It is fast and access time 80 nano -second to read from or write
into any location.
• It is expensive.
 0
2. ROM (Read only 7
Memory)
 When a computer is first switched on,
it needs to load up the BIOS (Basic
Input/output System) and basic
instructions for the hardware. These
instructions are stored in ROM (Read
Only Memory).
 ROM contains the programming that
allows your computer to be “Booted
Up”.
 This type of memory is called Non-
Volatile because it retains the
 ROM is a Non-volatile memory.
 It has continuous source of power and do not need
periodically refreshed.
 Under ROM comes
o PROM
o EPROM
o EEPROM
o EAROM
PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory)

 PROM are programmed to record information

using a facility known as a PROM –
programmer.
 The recorded information cannot be changed.
 It is also non-volatile storage.
 E.g video games, mobile phones etc.
EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory)

 It was developed to allow programmers to reprogram permanent read only chips.

 It is erased and reprogrammed by exposing the inside of the chip to Ultra Violet Light.
 It were used in the old IBM PCs and XTs for storing the BIOS information.
Electrically Alterable ROM

Memory (EAROM)

 Memory can be programmed and erased by electrical signals.

 It does not require exposure to ultraviolet light to erase its contents.
 It provide easy means to load and store temporary or permanent
information in a form of ROM memory.
 This memory can be retained for many years without any power supplied.
 It is a backup to RAM memory.
 A special form of EEPROM is flash memory
EEPROM ( Electrically Erasable memory)

 It allow the erasure of ROM chips on the fly.

 Itsend a series of special electrical signals through the chip erases
EEPROM chips.
 EEPROM chip is often referred to as the CMOS BIOS chip in
computer.
Information erased by electric pulses like Flash memory.
 0
 Secondary Storage 8
Devices:
 Secondary Storage, is a Non-
Volatile Memory (does not
lose stored data when the
device is powered down) that
is not directly accessible by
the CPU, because it is not
accessed via the input/output
channels.
 It is use to store Permanent
Data.
 0
Types of Secondary Storage 9
Devices:

There are Three main types of Secondary

Storage Devices.

 Magnetic Storage Devices

 Optical Storage Devices
 Solid-State Storage Devices
 1
1. Magnetic Storage 0
Devices:
Magnetic storage is the storage of
data on a magnetized medium.

There are Three main types of

Magnetic Storage Devices.

 Hard Disk
 Floppy Disk
 Magnetic Tape
 1
Hard Disk 1
Drive:
• Hard disk drive is a • The platters are used
data storage device to stored the data
that uses magnetic and these data is
storage to stored data access by using a
magnetically onto the magnetic head
tracks on the disk. • A platter is a hard
• The Hard Drive reads disk coated with a
& writes the data to the magnetic material.
Hard Disk.
 1
Hard Disk 2
Drive:
 Uses
 Stores all types of media
 Stores your data files
 Advantages
 Large storage capacity up to 10 TB +.
 Stored items are not lost when the computer is switched off.
 Usually fixed inside the computer and not portable.
 Disadvantages
 Slower than RAM & ROM.
 If the hard disk crashes the computer will not work & you have lost
your work!!!
 13
External Hard
Drive:
 An External hard drive is a portable
storage device that can be attached to a
computer through a USB cables.
 It is usually used to store media that a
user needs to be portable, for backups,
and when the internal hard drive of the
computer is full memory capacity.
 These devices have a high storage
capacity compared to flash drives.
 1
Floppy 4
Disk:
Floppy disk is also called Diskette.
It consists of a thin plastic disk
coated with magnetic material.
 Uses
 To keep personal data
 Keep extra copies of data
 Advantages
 Can be carried with you
 Disadvantages
 Limited capacity (typically 1.44 Mb)
 Unlikely to store your ICT
coursework on one
 1
Magnetic Tape Storage 5
Devices:
 Magnetic tape is an oldest storage
media to store large amount of data
permanently.
 Modern magnetic tape is most
commonly
packaged in Cassettes.
 Advantage:
 It is small in size.
 It is cheap.
 It can store lots of data.
 Disadvantage:
 Accessing data is very slow.
 1
2. Optical Storage 6
Devices:

Optical Storage Devices are discs

coated with a reflective metal on
which data is record using laser
technology.
The data on the storage medium is
read by the laser beam off the
surface of the medium.
 Types of Optical devices:
 Compact Disc (CD)
 Digital Versatile Disc (DVD)
 1
Compact 7
Disc( CD ):
Compact Disc is a digital optical disc data
storage format.
 The average CD allows for up to 700 MB of
data storage. Digital bits are stored as pits
on the reflective material in the disc. A red
wavelength laser detects these pits and
converts them to a digital signal.
 Three basic types.
 Read only: CD-ROM
 Write once: CD-R
 Rewriteable: CD-RW
 1
CD-ROM (Read Only 8
Memory):
 CD-ROM is a optical compact disc which contains
data. Computers can read CD-ROMs, but
cannot write to CD-ROMs, which are not
writable or erasable.
 Advantages
 Data cannot be erased
 Portable
 Much larger capacity than floppy disks (about
700Mb)
 Disadvantages
 Can’t write data to a CD Rom
 Data access can be slower than a hard drive.
 1
Digital Versatile Disc 9
(DVD):
 A Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) is an
optical disc storage medium similar to
a compact disc, but has a larger
storage capacity.
 The DVDs allows data storage for up
to 4.7 GB to 9.4 GB.
 DVDs used a Red wavelength laser
to read data, much like CDs.
 Storing high quality audio & video.
 2
Types of 0
DVD:
There are Three main types of DVD.
 DVD-ROM:
Read Only Memory DVDs can be only read data but not written or erased.
 DVD-R:
Blank Recordable DVD discs can be recorded once using a DVD recorder
and then function as a DVD-ROM.
 DVD-RW:
Rewritable DVDs (DVD-RW, DVD+RW) can be recorded and erased many
times.
 2
Blu-Ray Disc 1
( BD ):
 Blu-Ray is the new and more
expansive DVD format.
 It provides higher capacity and better
quality than DVD, especially for High-
Definition video.
 A Blu-Ray disc can hold up to 25 GB
to 50 GB of data
 Blu-Ray used a Blue wavelength laser
to read data.
 2
3. Solid-State Storage 2
Devices:

 Solid-State Storage is a type of non-

volatile computer storage that store data
Electronically instead of magnetically or
optical.
 Solid-State Devices have no moving
mechanical parts.
 SSD operates much faster than other
storage devices, because SSD have no
need to move a head or sensor to find
data or convert it from magnetic or
 2
Difference b/w HDD & 3
SSD:

 SSD stores data Electronically on

Microchips and contains No moving
parts. Meanwhile,
 A HDD records data Magnetically on
a Storage Platter by moving a
mechanical Arm with a read/write
Head over a spinning platter.
 SSD is faster than HDD.
 2
Flash 4
Memory:
 Flash Memory is a special types of
memory chip that combines the best
features of RAM & ROM.

 It is used for storage and for transferring

data between a digital devices.

 Flash Memory is a non-volatile.

 It is commonly used in Digital Cameras,

Multimedia Players, USB & Cell Phones.
 25
USB Storage
Device:
 A USB flash drive -- also known as a
USB stick, or pen drive -- is a Plug-and-
Play portable storage device that
uses flash memory and used for store
& transferring data.
 It is lightweight enough to attach to a
keychain.
 USB Drives now come in capacities
ranging between up to 8 GB to 2 TB.
 Easy to transfer data from one place
to