1.2.2 Secondary Storage

Question 1

What is the need for Secondary Storage?

Answer 1

Non- volatile type of storage used to save and store data that can be accessed frequently. It allows users to store information onto secondary storage and move away from the CPU however this does mean it is slower to access compared to primary storage

Question 2

What is Secondary Storage?

Answer 2

• Slower because it is not directly accessed by CPU
• Typically larger in storage size
• Used for long term storage as it is non-volatile
• Includes magnetic, optical and solid state

Question 3

What is a Magnetic hard disk drive (HDD)?

Answer 3

• Most common form of secondary storage within computers
• A read/write head moves above the disk platter to read or edit data
• Floppy disk is an obsolete type of magnetic storage
• Magnetic tape is still used only by companies to archive large amounts of data

Question 4

What are the characteristics of a Magnetic hard disk drive (HDD)?

Answer 4

• Large capacity and cheaper cost per gigabyte than solid state
• Modern HDDs are small and portable
• Due to moving parts HDDs aren’t very durable
• Slower access speed than solid state but faster than optical

Question 4

What is Optical storage?

Answer 4

• Uses a laser to project beams of light onto a spinning disc, allowing it to read data from a CD,DVD or Blu-ray
• Different types of discs that change how data can be written to or read from:
  
  • CD-ROM - read - only, used to store music, games, audio
  • CD-RW - rewritable, hold data that will be changed frequently
  • CD- R - written once, permanently write data to disc ( burn it)

Question 5

What are the characteristics of Optical Storage?

Answer 5

• Discs are thin and very portable
• Cheap to buy in bulk
• Low capacity
• Not durable as they can snap or be scratched easily
• The slowest access speed

Question 6

What is a Solid State Drive?

Answer 6

• No moving parts in solid state and are replacing magnetic HDDs in modern computers and video game consoles
• A USB stick is another type of solid state storage device
• Another type of solid state storage device is a memory card used in digital cameras or smartphones

Question 7

What are the characteristics of a Solid State Drive?

Answer 7

• Usually durable but cheap USBs can snap
• Small size of USB means very portable
• SSD have a high capacity, the fastest access speed because there are no moving parts
• More expensive cost per gigabyte than magnetic HDD