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Introduction
If you're familiar with computer hardware, you'll know that computer memory is responsible for storing all of the data, making it a crucial component. When it comes to computer memory, there are two distinct types: primary memory and secondary memory. Primary memory is volatile and has limited storage capacity.
Secondary memory overcomes this problem by storing data permanently and in large quantities. So, we will discuss everything about secondary memory and how various types of secondary memory contribute to computer hardware.
Secondary memory is non-volatile, persistent computer memory that is not directly accessed by a computer or processor, and it processes data at a slower rate. It allows a user to store data that can be accessed, transmitted, and used by applications and services in real time. Secondary memory is less crucial than primary memory because it is essentially more storage for more data. The secondary memory is also termed auxiliary memory or external memory.
One of the reasons we have secondary memory is, it is essential to have another form of memory that has a high storage capacity and from which data and programs are not lost when the computer turns off.
Types of storage in Secondary memory
Fixed Storage
Removable Storage
Fixed Storage
A fixed storage device is an internal disc or media device in our computer system that is used to store data. Usually, the data of the computer system is saved in a fixed storage device incorporated into the system. Fixed storage is often referred to as hard drives or fixed disc drives. In general, we don’t remove fixed devices, but sometimes we remove them in case of maintenance or replacement or any kind of repairing services required.
Removable Storage
Unlike Fixed Storage, removable media is an external disc in our computer system in the secondary memory. Disk drives or external drives are popular words for removable storage. It's a storage device that may be installed or withdrawn from a computer based on our needs. We can effortlessly uninstall them from the computer system while it is still functioning. We can simply transfer data from one computer to another using removable storage devices since they are portable. Furthermore, removable storage devices enable the high data transfer speeds that storage area networks are known for (SANs).
It is a data storage device that's made of a hard magnetic disc. It is contained within a drive unit and stores data permanently. A hard disc drive is made up of a spindle and a set of circular discs called platters that are stacked one on top of the other almost half inches apart. Non-magnetic materials such as aluminum alloy are used to make the discs, which are then coated with 10-20 nm of magnetic material.
These gadgets generally offer a big storage capacity and are also cost-effective! Because the data is read and written by a head, reading and writing the data is also extremely simple. Despite the fact that their data accessing speed is poor, they are employed in RAM that has a high data accessing speed.
Here's a labeled schematic of an HDD's moving parts to help you visualize what they look like:
Flash Drive
A flash drive or pen drive is available in a variety of storage sizes, including 1 GB, 2 GB, up to 1 TB. Data is transferred and stored on a flash drive. To access a flash drive, it must be plugged into a computer's USB port. A flash drive is quite popular nowadays since it is simple to use and small in size. Also, we can use a flash drive with our mobile phones too!
Flash drives, also known as thumb drives, pen drives, and USB drives, are some of the most often used auxiliary storage devices. They're essentially a little portable storage device that lets you effortlessly save, modify, and remove data.
SSD: Solid State Disk
SSD features a basic memory chip called NAND flash memory, and they're a newer type of computer storage device that really is designed to take the place of hard drives. SSDs can enhance the overall performance of your computer by speeding it up. When the transistors in the NAND flash conduct electricity, the value is set to 1, and when they don't, the value is set to 0. The SDD will be able to store data at a high rate as a result of this.
It's a non-volatile storage device for storing and retrieving data. It's quicker, makes no noise (since it doesn't have any moving components like a hard drive), uses less electricity, and so on. It is a perfect substitute for regular hard drives in desktops and laptops, and it's also ideal for tablets, notebooks, and other devices that don't require a lot of storage.
Floppy Disk
A floppy disc is a magnetic disc that is housed in a square plastic container. It's used to store information and transfer it from one device to another.
There are two sizes of floppy discs
Size: 3.5 inches, 1.44 MB storage capacity
Size: 5.25 inches, with a 1.2 MB storage capacity.
Our computer must have a floppy disc drive in order to use a floppy disc. This storage device is now outdated, and CDs, DVDs, and flash drives have taken its place.
SD Card
It's referred to as a Secure Digital Card. It is commonly used to store data in portable devices such as cell phones and cameras. It comes in a variety of capacities, including 1 GB, 2 GB, up to 512 GB.
You may access the data on the SD card by removing it from the device and inserting it into a computer using a card reader. The data on the SD card is kept in memory chips (which are included in the SD card), and there are no moving elements like there are on a hard drive.
There is a variety of SD Cards. They may vary in terms of speed, physical dimensions, and storage capacity. For example, micro SD cards, mini SD cards, and Standard SD cards.
Compact Disk
A Compact Disc (CD) is a type of secondary storage media that is broadly utilized. The surface is covered in tracks and sectors. It is composed of polycarbonate plastic and has a round form.
CDs have a data storage capacity of up to 700 MB. A CD is also known as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory) since computers can read the data on it but not write new data to it. CD is of mainly two types:
CD-R (compact disc recordable): Once written, the data cannot be deleted; it can only be read.
CD-RW (compact disc rewritable): This is a form of CD that allows us to erase and rewrite data as many times as we desire. It's also known as an erasable CD.
Blu-ray Disk
A Blu-ray disc resembles a CD or DVD, but it can hold up to 25 GB of data or information. You'll need a Blu-ray reader if you wish to employ a Blu-ray disc. The term Blu-ray comes from the technology used to read the disc: 'Blu' comes from a blue-violet laser, and 'ray' comes from an optical ray.
The Blu-ray Disk (BD) is an optical storage medium for storing high-definition (HD) video and other multimedia files. In comparison to CD/DVD, BD employs a shorter wavelength laser. This allows the writing arm to focus more firmly on the disc, allowing for more data to be written.
Digital Versatile Disc
DVD stands for Digital Versatile Disc. It resembles a CD in appearance. However, it has a larger storage capacity than a CD, storing up to 4.7 GB of data.
To use a DVD on a computer, you'll need a DVD-ROM drive. Video data, such as movies or video recordings, are often saved on DVD, which may be played with a DVD player. DVD is of the following three types:
DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disc Readonly): When a manufacturer adds data to a DVD-ROM, the user can only read it. They cannot write new data to it. For example, a movie DVD has already been created by the maker, and we can only view it. We cannot add new data to it.
DVD-R (Digital Versatile Disc Recordable): DVD-R allows you to write data once only. It is not possible to remove data that has been written onto it. It can only be read.
DVD-RW (Digital Versatile Disc Rewritable and Erasable): This is a particular form of DVD that allows us to erase and rewrite data as much as we desire. It's also known as an erasable DVD.
Secondary memory is applicable to use for various purposes like -
Large Storage: Secondary memory has an enormous storage capacity, allowing us to permanently store large amounts of data such as films, photos, audios, and files.
Permanent storage: Primary memory saves data only when the power is on and loses data when the power is turned off, as we all know. As a result, we require a secondary memory that can keep data indefinitely even when the power source is turned off.
Portable: Some secondary devices can be taken apart and taken with you. As a result, we can effortlessly store and transmit data from one computer to another.
Characteristics of Secondary Memory
Secondary memory is optical and magnetic memories.
The machine can function without the use of secondary memory.
It is a sort of non-volatile memory.
It is relatively slower than primary memory.
Even when the computer's power is turned off, data is kept eternally.
Secondary memory is also considered Backup memory.
The storage capacity is quite large and expandable.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do we access secondary storage?
In computer operations, only the primary or main memory has access to secondary memory, which is then later transmitted to the processor.
What is a volatile memory?
Volatile memory is a memory that loses its contents when the power is switched off.
Which secondary memory is more efficient based on factors like more durable, smaller, and faster?
Pen drive / Flash drive.
Conclusion
To summarise the article, we discussed Secondary memory briefly and all the types of secondary memory. We also learned why secondary memory is very beneficial in terms of scalable storage.
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