1.3.

5 Memory And Storage Devices

Primary memory is computer memory that is accessed directly by the CPU. This includes
several types of memory, such as the processor cache and system ROM. However, in most cases,
primary memory refers to system RAM.RAM, or random access memory, consists of one or
more memory modules that temporarily store data while a computer is running. RAM is volatile
memory, meaning it is erased when the power is turned off. Therefore, each time you start up
your computer, the operating system must be loaded from secondary memory (such as a hard
drive) into the primary memory, or RAM.

Similarly, whenever you launch an application on your computer, it is loaded into RAM. The operating
system and applications are loaded into primary memory, since RAM can be accessed much faster than storage devices. In fact, the data can be transferred
between CPU and RAM more than a hundred times faster than between the CPU and the hard drive. By loading data into RAM, programs can run
significantly faster and are much more responsive than if than constantly accessed data from secondary memory. DVD RAM is a recent addition to the optical
media group. Unlike other CD and DVD formats, DVD RAMs have several discrete concentric tracks rather than a single spiral track. This gives them the
advantage that writing and reading can occur at the same time. This makes it possible to watch an already recorded television program at the same time as
different program is being recorded.DVD RAMs can written to many times.DVD RAMs have a long life estimated to be 30 years and re-write operation can be
carried out over 100,000 times which is 100 times more than RW formats.
Secondary memory refers to storage devices, such as hard drives and solid state drives. Unlike primary memory; secondary memory is not accessed directly by
the CPU. Instead, data accessed from secondary memory is first loaded into RAM and is then sent to the processor. The RAM plays an important intermediate
role, since it provides much faster data access speeds than secondary memory. By loading software programs and files into primary memory, computers can
process data much more quickly. While secondary memory is much slower than primary memory, it typically offers far greater storage capacity. For example, a
computer may have a one terabyte hard drive, but only 16 gigabytes of RAM. Secondary memory is non-volatile, meaning it retains its data with or without
electrical power. RAM, on the other hand, is erased when a computer is shut down or restarted. Therefore, secondary memory is used to store "permanent
data," such as the operating system, applications, and user files.
Hard disk:- A hard disk is really a set of stacked "disks," each of which, like phonograph records, has
data recorded electromagnetically in concentric circles or "tracks" on the disk. A "head” records
(writes) or reads the information on the tracks. Two heads, one on each side of a disk, read or write
the data as the disk spins. Each read or write operation requires that data be located, which is an
operation called a "seek." (Data already in a disk cache, however, will be located more quickly.) A hard
disk/drive unit comes with a set rotation speed varying from 4500 to 7200 rpm. Disk access time is
measured in milliseconds. The physical location can be identified with cylinder, track, and sector
locations.

Solid state devices (SSDs):- Solid-state drives actually aren't hard drives in the traditional sense of the term, as
there are no moving parts involved. A traditional hard disk drive (HDD) consists of a spinning disk with a read/write head on a mechanical arm. An SSD, on
the other hand, has an array of semiconductor memory organized as a disk drive, using integrated circuits (ICs) rather than magnetic or optical storage media.
Off-line storage is any storage that is not currently online, live or connected to the computer. The data stored in offline storage remains permanently in the
storage device even if it’s disconnected or unplugged from the computer after the data has been stored. Offline storage is generally portable in nature and can be
used on different computer systems. Common examples of offline storage include floppy disks, compact disks and USB sticks.
Solid state memory:- Solid state systems control the movements of electrons within the microchip. The 1s and 0s are stored in millions of miniature transistors
within the microchip. If a transistor conducts a current this is equivalent to a 1 otherwise 0.they consequently have no moving parts, consume much less power
and are extremely robust.
Memory sticks/pen drives:- It uses solid state technology to store several GBytes of data. It is usually connected to a computer through the USB port and power
to operate them is drawn from the host computer. They are small and very portable. Memory sticks and pen drives are used for transporting files between
computers or as a backup store. They are used a security device, a dongle, to prevent software piracy
Flash memory cards:- These are a form of electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) and are another example of solid state memory.
They are used to store photos on digital cameras. Mobile phones use them as memory cards. They are also used in MP3 players to store music files. They are very
compact and robust.
Compact Disks (CDs):- The data is stored as a series of pits (equivalent to binary 1) and lands (equivalent to binary 0) in metallic optical layer. The pits are
formed by a laser beam etching the surface at the manufacturing stage. Only a single track exits which spirals out from the centre of the disk.
The pits and lands are read by a low-powered laser beam which follows the data stream and reads from the centre outwards in a spiral. The light reflects
differently off a pit than it does off a land and this interpreted a s1s and 0s.
DVDs:- DVDs can hold up to ten times the amount of data that a CD can store.DVD writers use a shorter wavelength of laser light than CD writers do, so the
pit on the disk surface is a lot smaller and more can be stored in the same space.
CDs and DVDs are cheaper and robust than hard disks but data transfer rates and access times for both are slower than hard disks.
Blu-ray:- These have largest capacity of all optical disks up to 100 GB or more. It uses a shorter wavelength for its laser beam, using light that is close to the
blue/violet spectra rather than the red light used by other optical devices. They are mostly used for storing films (movies)