By Syed M Hamedoon

Assistant Professor
 Memory:-
A memory is just like a human brain. It is used to store data and
instructions. Computer memory is the storage space in the
computer, where data is to be processed and instructions
required for processing are stored. The memory is divided in to
large number of small parts called cells. Each location and cell
has unique address which varies from 0 to memory size -1 .

For example:
If a computer has 64k words ; then memory unit has 64
*1024=65536 memory locations. The address range is 0 to
65535
Types of Memory
 Memory is primarily of three types
• Cache Memory
• Primary Memory/ Main Memory
• Secondary Memory
• A computer cannot run without the
primary memory
 Types of RAM
• Static RAM (SRAM)
• Dynamic RAM (DRAM)
ROM
 Secondary storage
A secondary storage device is a non-volatile data storage device
that retains information even when the power is turned off.
Unlike primary storage (RAM), which is volatile and loses data
when the system is shut down.
• secondary storage provides long-term storage for files,
applications, and the operating system.
• Secondary memory is a physical device for the permanent
storage of programs and data(Hard disk, Compact disc, Flash
drive, etc.).
• Some examples of secondary memory include hard disk drives
(HDDs), solid-state drives (SSDs), optical discs (such as CDs and
DVDs), and flash memory (such as USB drives and memory
cards).
 Secondary memory storage can be
classified into two types:
1. Magnetic Storage
2. Solid State Storage

Magnetic storage devices, such as hard disk drives

and magnetic tapes, use magnetic fields to store and
retrieve data.
Solid-state storage devices, such as solid-state drives
and flash memory, use semiconductor-based
memory chips to store data.
 Types of Secondary Memory
1. Fixed storage

In secondary memory, a fixed storage is an internal media

device that is used to store data in a computer system. Fixed
storage is generally known as fixed disk drives or hard drives.
Generally, the data of the computer system is stored in a built-
in fixed storage device. Fixed storage does not mean that you
can not remove them from the computer system, you can
remove the fixed storage device for repairing, for the upgrade,
or for maintenance, etc. with the help of an expert or engineer.
 Types of fixed storage:

Following are the types of fixed storage:

• Internal flash memory (rare)

• SSD (solid-state disk)
• Hard disk drives (HDD)
 2. Removable storage
• In secondary memory, removable storage is an external
media device that is used to store data in a computer system.
Removable storage is generally known as disks drives or
external drives.
• It is a storage device that can be inserted or removed from
the computer according to our requirements.
• We can easily remove them from the computer system while
the computer system is running.
• Removable storage devices are portable so we can easily
transfer data from one computer to another. Also, removable
storage devices provide the fast data transfer rates associated
with storage area networks (SANs).
 Types of Removable Storage:
• Optical discs (like CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray discs,
etc.)
• Memory cards
• Floppy disks
• Magnetic tapes
• Disk packs
• Paper storage (like punched tapes, punched
cards, etc.)
 Secondary memory devices

• Floppy Disk
• Compact Disc:
• Digital Versatile Disc:
• Hard Disk
• Flash Drive:
• Solid-state disk
• SD Card:
 floppy disk
• A floppy disk consists of a magnetic disc in a square
plastic case.
• It is used to store data and to transfer data from one
device to another device.
• Floppy disks are available in two sizes
• (a) Size: 3.5 inches, the Storage capacity of 1.44 MB
• (b) Size: 5.25 inches, the Storage capacity of 1.2 MB.
• To use a floppy disk, our computer needs to have a
floppy disk drive. This storage device becomes obsolete
now and has been replaced by CDs, DVDs, and flash
drives.
 Compact Disc:
• A Compact Disc (CD) is a commonly used
secondary storage device. It contains tracks
and sectors on its surface. Its shape is circular
and is made up of polycarbonate plastic. The
storage capacity of CD is up to 700 MB of data.
A CD may also be called a CD-ROM (Compact
Disc Read-Only Memory), in this computers
can read the data present in a CD-ROM, but
cannot write new data onto it.
 Digital Versatile Disc: (DVD)
• A Digital Versatile Disc also known as DVD it is
looks just like a CD, but the storage capacity is
greater compared to CD, it stores up to 4.7 GB
of data.
• DVD-ROM drive is needed to use DVD on a
computer. The video files, like movies or video
recordings, etc., are generally stored on DVD
and you can run DVD using the DVD player.
 Hard Disk
• A hard disk is a part of a unit called a hard disk drive. It
is used to storing a large amount of data. Hard disks or
hard disk drives come in different storage
capacities.(like 256 GB, 500 GB, 1 TB, and 2 TB, etc.). It
is created using the collection of discs known as
platters.
• The platters are placed one below the other. They are
coated with magnetic material. Each platter consists of
a number of invisible circles and each circle having the
same centre called tracks.
• Hard disk is of two types (i) Internal hard disk (ii)
External hard disk
 Flash Drive:
• A flash drive or pen drive comes in various
storage capacities, such as 1 GB, 2 GB, 4 GB, 8
GB, 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB, up to 1 TB.
• A flash drive is used to transfer and store data.
To use a flash drive, we need to plug it into a
USB port on a computer. As a flash drive is
easy to use and compact in size, Nowadays it
is very popular.
 Solid-state disk: (SSD)
• It is also known as SDD. It is a non-volatile storage
device that is used to store and access data.
• It is faster, does noiseless operations(because it
does not contain any moving parts like the hard
disk), consumes less power, etc.
• It is a great replacement for standard hard drives
in computers and laptops if the price is low and it
is also suitable for tablets, notebooks, etc
because they do not require large storage.
 SD Card:
• It is known as a Secure Digital Card. It is generally
used in portable devices like mobile phones,
cameras, etc., to store data. It is available in
different sizes like 1 GB, 2 GB, 4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB,
32 GB, 64 GB, etc.
• To view the data stored in the SD card you can
remove them from the device and insert them
into a computer with help of a card reader.
• The data stores in the SD card is stored in
memory chips(present in the SD Card) and it does
not contain any moving parts like the hard disk.