Backing up storage to put it in simplified terms is the way in which a computer stores or transports its data, on this page, you will find out about the three different types of storage types with multiple explained examples, I will also explore which factors affect the speed and performance of the different storage types.
Hard disks Disks:
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To store all the data of the computer, from the OS to the software and documents that are on the computer, the Hard disk have a pointer which writes and re-writes on a spinning disk. Data is organised on the disk, and is found by the pointer head, the average speed of a hard disk is 15ms to find data and 7,500 RPM. However, not all harddrives have a spinning disk, more commonly on the MAC computers, there are SSD’s this is flash storage to be put basically, it work exactly as a magnetic HD but the SSD is much faster and more reliable, especially in the long term.
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Factors that can affect performance vary but most typically are the Age of the computer and the type of SSD or HDD inside.
Other factors are;
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Floppy Disk and Zip Disk
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They were used back when computers first were able to transport data into an external storage device in the 1960s. The floppy disk requires that you have floppy drive support that is no longer manufactured as it has been replaced by other larger storage devices such as USBs and External HDs.
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Factors that affect speeds if of the floppy disks are the floppy disk drives that are required to view the files on them, the faster the rotation speed, the quicker the data can be either read or written.
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USB Flash Drive
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USB flash drives are small compact storage devices which vary in size. They were first introduced commercially in 2000. They vary in size but are usually small and the size of your thumb. They are fast and reliable because they have no moving parts.
It consists of a small printed circuit board carrying the circuit elements and a USB connector. |
Factors that affect usb transfer speeds are the size of the USB and the class of it. The most recent class, that has the fastest transfer rate is USB 3.0, the transfer rate is 640MBps. That is its maximum and most dont reach that potential.. Yet.
The USBclasses go down, from the recent USB 3.0 all the way down to USB 1.1 which is the very first and is the slowest of the three. |
Primary Memory
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The primary data of a computer could be; RAM, Cache memory or data buses.
These components all work to keep the computer running smoothly, and is used to store data that is being used. Primary data is considered faster than secondary memory. |
Primary data is affected by many factors such as the component that is in the computer, generally the better the primary data is the faster that the computer runs and stores data, especially when opening apps or software.
Many factors can affect primary data for example, the the make and manufacture of the component, the better the component the better will will run and therefore the faster that your computer will work. |
Secondary Memory
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This is the memory that is not directly accessed by the CPU. One of the most commons forms of secondary memory is the Hard Drive of the computer.
Secondary memory is slower than primary memory but can store and retain data. |
This is the memory that is not directly accessed by the CPU. One of the most commons forms of secondary memory is the Hard Drive of the computer.
Secondary memory is slower than primary memory but can store and retain data. |
Tertiary Memory
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It involves a robotic mechanism which will mount (insert) and dismount removable storage devices according to what the system needs. this data is often copied to secondary storage before use.
This can be seen as A USB or an external hard drive to be mounted on the computer in order to work. |