Chapter: 3 – Storage Devices and

Media

Contents:
1. Magnetic Media and Magnetic Storage Devices
2. Optical Media and Optical Storage Devices
3. Solid-State Media and Solid-State Storage Devices
4. Memory Cards
MAGNETIC TAPE DRIVERS
MAGNETIC TAPE DRIVES STORE DATA USING A
MAGNETIC LAYER AND READ IT SEQUENTIALLY,
MAKING THEM IDEAL FOR BATCH PROCESSING,
BACKUPS, AND LONG-TERM STORAGE DUE TO
THEIR HIGH CAPACITY AND DURABILITY. THEY
ARE COST-EFFECTIVE AND HAVE A FAST DATA
TRANSFER RATE BUT ARE SLOW IN ACCESSING
SPECIFIC DATA.
THEIR MAIN DRAWBACKS INCLUDE SLOW ACCESS
TIMES, A COMPLEX UPDATING PROCESS, AND
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO MAGNETIC INTERFERENCE.
DESPITE THIS, THEY REMAIN USEFUL FOR
STORING LARGE AMOUNTS OF DATA EFFICIENTLY.
1. Magnetic
Media and
Magnetic Storage
Devices

HARD DISK DRIVES

HARD DISK DRIVES (HDDS) ARE WIDELY USED FOR DATA
STORAGE IN COMPUTERS AND SERVERS. THEY CONSIST OF
ROTATING MAGNETIC PLATTERS THAT STORE DATA IN
These types of storage devices use
CONCENTRIC TRACKS, WITH READ/WRITE HEADS
magnetic properties to store data.
ACCESSING DATA QUICKLY. HDDS USE DIRECT ACCESS, Magnetic Storage Devices use iron
ALLOWING FASTER RETRIEVAL COMPARED TO MAGNETIC oxide to represent the binary code. If
TAPES. THEY ARE COMMONLY USED FOR OPERATING the iron is magnetised, then it is 1, or
SYSTEMS, SOFTWARE STORAGE, AND DATABASES DUE TO else it is 0
THEIR HIGH CAPACITY AND RELATIVELY LOW COST PER
Because the magnetised area is
GIGABYTE. MODERN HDDS CAN HAVE MULTIPLE PLATTERS,
minimal, a huge amount of data can
INCREASING STORAGE CAPACITY SIGNIFICANTLY. be stored.
AN HDD WORKS BY SPINNING MAGNETIC PLATTERS AT A big advantage is that Iron oxide is
HIGH SPEEDS, TYPICALLY BETWEEN 5,400 AND 15,000 RPM. permanent until written over.
THE READ/WRITE HEAD, CONTROLLED BY AN ACTUATOR
ARM, HOVERS JUST ABOVE THE PLATTERS AND MOVES TO
THE CORRECT TRACK TO READ OR WRITE DATA. THE
PLATTERS ARE DIVIDED INTO TRACKS, SECTORS, AND
CLUSTERS, WHICH ORGANIZE DATA FOR EFFICIENT
RETRIEVAL. THE HDD CONTROLLER AND FIRMWARE
MANAGE DATA STORAGE AND ACCESS, ENSURING THE
CORRECT INFORMATION IS RETRIEVED. SINCE HDDS USE
DIRECT ACCESS STORAGE, THEY CAN QUICKLY LOCATE AND
READ DATA INSTEAD OF SCANNING THROUGH IT
SEQUENTIALLY LIKE MAGNETIC TAPES, MAKING THEM
MUCH FASTER FOR COMPUTING TASKS.
 CD-R & DVD-R
Uses: These discs are commonly used for storing music,
Optical Media movies, software, and personal data backups. They are
and Optical also used for archiving data that does not need to be
Storage modified.
Devices Advantages: CD-R and DVD-R are affordable, widely
compatible with most devices, and once burned, the data
Optical media storage remains permanent, preventing accidental deletion or
works by using a laser to modification.
read and write data on a Disadvantages: They can only be written once; if an error
disc’s surface. The disc
occurs during burning, the disc becomes unusable.
contains a single spiral
Additionally, not all players can read CD-R or DVD-R
track with tiny indentations
formats.
called pits and flat areas
called lands. A red laser
beam is directed onto the CD-RW & DVD-RW
disc, and a sensor detects Uses: These are used for tasks that require frequent
how the light reflects back. updates, such as temporary backups, file transfers, and
The difference in reflection rewriting data for personal or professional use.
between pits and lands is Advantages: They can be rewritten multiple times,
converted into binary data allowing flexibility in data storage. Users can add, delete,
(0s and 1s).
or modify files without needing a new disc.
For writing data, CD-R and Disadvantages: They are more expensive than write-once
DVD-R use a dye layer that discs, have a shorter lifespan due to repeated rewriting,
permanently changes when and data can be accidentally overwritten.
exposed to a high-intensity
laser. Rewritable discs (CD-
RW/DVD-RW) use a phase-
changing material that can CD-ROM & DVD-ROM
be heated and cooled to Uses: These are primarily used for distributing software,
switch between reflective video games, movies. They are also used in systems
and non-reflective states, where data should not be modified, such as instructional
allowing data to be media.
rewritten. DVDs and Blu-ray Advantages: CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs are widely
discs store more data by compatible, and cost-effective for mass data distribution.
using smaller pits, multiple Once written, data remains permanent, ensuring
layers, and shorter laser
protection from accidental modifications or deletions.
wavelengths for higher
Disadvantages: They are read-only, meaning users cannot
precision.
modify or add new data. Compared to modern storage
solutions like flash drives or SSDs, they have slower read
speeds and lower storage capacity, making them less
efficient for large-scale data handling.
 SOLID STATE MEDIA
Solid State Drive AND SOLID-STATE
STORAGE DEVICES
Uses: SSDs are used in modern laptops, desktops, and gaming
consoles for faster boot times and improved system performance.
They are also widely used in enterprise servers and data centres Solid-state drives (SSDs) use
due to their high-speed data access and reliability. Additionally, flash memory to store data
SSDs are used in portable external drives for quick file transfers electronically instead of
and backups. relying on moving parts like
traditional hard drives. They
Advantages: SSDs are much faster than traditional HDDs, offering function through floating-gate
quick to their lack of moving parts, making them resistant to transistors, which trap
shocks and vibrations. Additionally, SSDs consume less power, electrical charges to represent
generate less heat, and operate silently, making them ideal for binary data (0s and 1s),
laptops and portable devices. ensuring data remains even
without power.
Disadvantages: SSDs are generally more expensive per gigabyte
compared to HDDs, making them less cost-effective for high- Data retrieval is nearly instant,
as the SSD controller quickly
capacity storage. They have a limited number of write cycles,
accesses memory cells via
meaning their lifespan can be shorter under heavy use.
electrical signals, leading to
Additionally, data recovery from a failed SSD is more difficult
fast performance, low power
compared to HDDs. consumption, and high
durability. Additionally, SSDs
use wear levelling to evenly
distribute data storage,
preventing premature wear of
specific memory cells and
prolonging the device's
lifespan

Blu-ray
Blu-ray has higher storage capacity than the other
devices. It uses a blue laser instead of a red laser. They
have higher security and a faster Data Transfer Rate and a
Data Access Time.
Uses: Blu-ray discs are mainly used for storing HD and
UHD movies, gaming content, and large data backups.
Advantages: Very high storage capacity. Automatically
come with encryption system
Disadvantages: Expensive. Encryption problems when
trying to store videos
Memory cards are widely used
storage devices that utilize solid-state
technology for data retention. They
are designed to be small, portable,
Memory Cards
and durable, making them ideal for Sd Cards
digital devices like cameras, mobile
phones, and MP3 players. These cards SD cards are the most commonly
allow users to store photos, music, used type, found in digital cameras,
videos, and other digital files, smartphones, and tablets. They offer
providing an easy way to transfer data high storage capacity and fast data
between devices. Unlike traditional
transfer rates, making them ideal for
hard drives, memory cards have no
multimedia storage.
moving parts, making them more
resistant to physical damage and ideal
for mobile use. XD Cards

XD cards, primarily used in older

digital cameras, are smaller than SD
cards but have been largely replaced
by newer technologies due to their
limited storage capacity and slower
speeds.

CFast Cards

CFast cards are designed for

professional photography and
videography, offering extremely high
speeds and large capacities, making
them suitable for high-resolution
image and video storage in
professional cameras.

Uses of Memory Cards:

Memory cards store and transfer