Permanent storage, also called persistent storage, is any computer data storage device that retains its data when the device is unpowered. A common example of permanent storage is the computer's hard drive or SSD. Examples of permanent storage devices.
Because of its volatility, RAM can't store permanent data. RAM can be compared to a person's short-term memory, and a hard disk drive to a person's long-term memory. A computer's hard disk can become completely full of data and unable to take any more, but RAM won't run out of memory.
Unlike RAM, Read Only Memory (ROM) delivers both non-volatile and permanent primary storage. ROM retains its contents even if the device loses power. You cannot change the data on it, you can only read it.
Memory is an electronic component that is capable of storing data and information on a temporary basis. Storage refers to physical storage devices. Memory can access data and information instantly. Storage cannot access or modify data as fast as the memory.
The more memory your computer has, the more it's able to think about at the same time. More RAM allows you to use more complex programs and more of them. More hard drive storage allows you to store more things on your computer. However, it rarely affects your computer's performance.
Computers have two kinds of storage — temporary and permanent. A computer's memory is used for temporary storage, while a computer's hard drive is used for permanent storage.
Most hard disk drives (HDD) last between three and five years before some component fails. That doesn't always mean the drive is irrecoverably busted. But three to five years is still about how long they last, whether you're talking about an internal drive for a server or desktop, or an external hard disk drive.
RAM is given the term 'random access' because data and instructions can be stored and accessed from any location within the memory ). RAM is used to hold data and instructions that are currently in use. In a modern PC, RAM is used to hold the operating system and any open documents and programs that are running.
Each stick of RAM has a set amount it can store, as indicated by 1GB, 2GB, and so on. What does the GB stand for? This is short-hand for a “gigabyte,” a measurement of data that equals roughly 1 billion bytes.
However, the Random Access Memory (RAM) is temporary storage while the hard drive is the permanent computer storage, it lets you store data for a very long time, and its capacity is measured in Terabytes (TB) or Gigabytes (GB).
ROM is non-volatile memory, which means the information is permanently stored on the chip. Turning off the computer does not have any effect on ROM. Non-volatile memory cannot be changed by users.
External storage devices
- External HDDs and SSDs.
- Flash memory devices.
- Optical Storage Devices.
- Floppy Disks.
- Primary Storage: Random Access Memory (RAM)
- Secondary Storage: Hard Disk Drives (HDD) & Solid-State Drives (SSD)
- Hard Disk Drives (HDD)
- Solid-State Drives (SSD)
The most common type of storage devices are Both Magnetic storage & Flash memory. Magnetic storage devices: Today, magnetic storage is one of the most common types of storage used with computers. This technology found mostly on extremely large HDDs or hybrid hard drives.
10 Digital Data Storage Devices for Computers
- Hard Drive Disks.
- Floppy Disks.
- Tapes.
- Compact Discs (CDs)
- DVD and Blu-ray Discs.
- USB Flash Drives.
- Secure Digital Cards (SD Card)s.
- Solid-State Drives (SSDs)
There are two types of storage devices used with computers: a primary storage device, such as RAM, and a secondary storage device, such as a hard drive. Secondary storage can be removable, internal, or external.
A hard disk drive (HDD), hard disk, hard drive, or fixed disk, is an electromechanical data storage device that uses magnetic storage to store and retrieve digital information using one or more rigid rapidly rotating disks (platters) coated with magnetic material.
Examples of storage media, and the pros and cons of each, are as follows.
- Hard disk. A hard disk provides a high-capacity alternative to magnetic storage media.
- RAID.
- Optical disk.
- Flash memory.
- SSD.
- USB flash drives.
- Tape.
Primary memory usually refers to Random Access Memory (RAM), while secondary storage refers to devices such as hard disk drives, solid state drives, removable “USB” drives, CDs, and DVDs.
Storage devices
- speed (how quickly data can be accessed)
- cost per storage unit (i.e. price per gigabyte or megabyte)
- durability (toughness)
- portability (how easy it is to move it from one computer to another)
Common types of secondary storage
- magnetic storage devices, such as hard disk drives.
- optical storage devices, such as CD, DVD and Blu-ray discs.
- solid state storage devices, such as solid state drives and USB memory sticks.
