1.3 Secondary storage 2: solid state memory

Question 1

How is solid state storage different to magnetic and optical?

Answer 1

there are no moving parts

Question 2

flash memory

Answer 2

non-volatile storage that can be electrically erased and reprogrammed

Question 3

solid state storage

Answer 3

made up of flash memory

arrays of transistors (switches) are used

they can operate in two different states, 0 and 1, and are switches from one to the other using electrical signals

data is encoded as sets of binary digits

8GB of solid state storage require 32 billion transistors
(4 billion per GB)

Question 4

uses of solid state memory

Answer 4

for data storage in portable devices such as cameras and mobile phones

Question 5

solid-state drives (SSDs)

Answer 5

can provide secondary storage instead of magnetic discs

Question 6

secure digital cards (SD) cards/flash memory card

Answer 6

SD and microSD cards are used in portable devices such as phones, cameras, and tablets

Question 7

USB flash drives

Answer 7

convenient compact forms of flash memory for sharing and transferring data

Question 8

Explain how each of these secondary storage devices physically records data.

a) magnetic hard drive
b) flash memory USB stick
c) optical disc drive [3]

Answer 8

a) use electromagnetism to store data magnetically on metal discs
b) data is stored in flash memory by using electricity to change the state of the transistors it is made of
c) DVDs use light produced by a laser to store data on the disc by changing its surface

Question 9

List two advantages of using a flash memory device rather than a magnetic hard drive disc for data storage [2]

Answer 9

faster access
quieter
lighter and more portable
solid state (no moving parts) so more reliable and less easily damaged
less likely to lose data

Question 10

State one disadvantage of using flash memory [1]

Answer 10

solid state is currently more expensive than magnetic storage in terms of price per GB but the price differential is shrinking

maximum storage capacity available is lower than that provided by modern magnetic disc drives

shorter life span than a hard disc drive