Secondary Storage

Secondary Storage

1. Optical Storage

   • Disadvantages
     • Not very durable and has a limited capacity
   • Advantages
     • Cost effective and very portable

2. Solid State Drive (SSD)

   • Advantages
     • More durable and can read and write data much faster than magnetic storage. It is also more energy efficient.
   • Disadvantages
     • Less cost effective in comparison to magnetic because it has a much smaller capacity. It also has a limited read/write lifespan.

3. Magnetic Storage

   • How does it work?
     • Data is stored by magnetising the surface of flat, circular plates called platters. These platters rotate at a very high speed.
   • Advantages
     • Has the largest capacity, therefore making it overall cost effecive.
   • Disadvantages
     • Not as durable due to moving parts and reads/writes data slower in comparison to other devices.

4. Comparison

   • Magnetic: Cost effective due to having a larger capacity than solid state, but Not as durable due to moving parts and reads/writes data slower in comparison to solid state.
   • Solid State: More durable and can read and write data much faster than magnetic storage. It is also more energy efficient, but Less cost effective in comparison to magnetic because it has a much smaller capacity. It also has a limited read/write lifespan.
   • Optical: Cost effective and very portable, but Not very durable and has a limited capacity.