You may have seen that computers use different storage to read and write the input data. However, a computer would not work as expected without temporary or permanent storage.
Most electronic gadgets you use would be useless without a proper place for storing digital information. Moreover, everything from the OS to applications and separate files everything can be kept on the storage devices.
Thus, cloud storage services, solid-state drives and hard disk drives are being used nowadays. You may know that there are 2 types of storage that we generally use in computers, such as:
- Temporary storage
- Permanent storage
Check out various types of storage under the Permanent storage category to proceed.
Types of Storages under the Permanent Storage category
You can use almost a dozen permanent storage devices on your computer. However, you can get only 2 temporary storages on your device, which are:
- Cache memory
- Random Access Memory (RAM)
You can get 4 types of storage under the permanent storage capacity, and these are:
- Online storage
- Optical storage
- Flash storage
- Magnetic storage
Let’s go through the devices that fall under these categories to know what types of storage are beneficial for your PC:
1. Cloud storage
You can use cloud storage to store your crucial data. Moreover, Cloud storage comes under the online types of storage, and your data will get stored on servers. Thus, you can access it anytime using an active internet connection.
If you use cloud storage, you never have to worry about losing your data. Since your data is stored on multiple servers, it ensures 100% reliability and uptime.
You have to buy cloud storage from cloud providers like Microsoft Onedrive, Google One and many more. In addition, you need a computer for accessing the cloud storage aligned with an active internet connection.
2. BluRay Discs
BluRay disks are the most popular types of storage you can use to store your data on your PC. Moreover, a BluRay disk is a standard DVC or DVD drive. You can store even more data packed into the BluRay disk’s spiral tracks.
BlueRay disk features a specialised violet laser that can read the binary information on the disk’s surface. Additionally, Blu-ray discs also provide layering technology to grow the storage capacity like DVDs.
You will usually get 2 types of BluRay discs in the market, these are:
- Single Layer – comes with 25 GB storage.
- Double Layer – comes with 50 GB storage.
You may spend a bit more to buy a BluRay disk compared to DVDs and CDs. However, these types of storage should be considered the optical media’s gold standard.
3. Memory Cards
Memory cards come under the flash types of storage, and you often use them on your smartphones, tablets or PCs. Moreover, memory cards are also known as SD cards, and these types of storage are dependent upon memory.
In addition, memory cards are designed for portable gadgets like smartphones, cameras etc. Thus, most tablets and many laptops also feature memory card readers.
Memory card makers offer different types of sizing options. You can get mainly 3 types of storage while buying a memory card, and that is:
- Full-size SD cards
- MiniSD cards
- MicroSD cards
You can use the full-size SD card for your laptops and desktop PCs. Besides this, you can use miniSD and microSD cards on your smartphones, tablets or camera.
Memory cards are mainly segmented by their speed of read/write. Moreover, this speed varies between 12.5 Mbps and 3938 Mbps. It is one of the best types of storage you can use for transferring your files between two devices. In addition, memory cards are also cheaper than magnetic-type storage devices.
4. USB Flash drive or Pendrive
Pen Drives are one of the most common types of storage you can find at your workplace or home. Pendrive, a USB flash drive, depends on NAND flash memory.
These types of storage are designed to be pocketable and portable storage solutions for you. All you need to do is plug the Pendrive into your PC’s USB port. Then, you will get fast read and write speed while storing your data.
In other words, you can use pen drives in your computer as ultraportable storage devices. Moreover, USB flash drives give you a better solution for transferring files from your PC to your phone or vice-versa. Pen Drives are often utilised as backup systems for greater amounts of data.
5. SSD [Solid State Drive]
Almost all users add an SSD to their PCs, whether it is desktop or laptop. If you search different eCommerce websites for a PC, you will see that almost all PCs come with an SSD.
Like pen drives, SSD depends on the NAND flash memory for a blistering read and write speed. In addition, SSD includes transistors that are wired in series on a circuit board which means SSDs lack moving components.
Therefore, if you store your data in an SSD, you can access it immediately and without heating. Your PC’s operating system reads the storage drive, and solid-state drives come in external and internal configurations. Therefore, faster read and write speeds effects quicker loading time and a faster OS and other advantages.
If you look for an SSD to buy, you can see that an SSD’s cost is higher than HDD. Usually, solid-state drives are more expensive than hard disk drives. Since the performance of SSD is way better in the aspect of longevity or read and write speeds compared to HDD.
6. Hard Disk Drive
A hard disk drive or HDD comes under the magnetic types of storage, and it is a non-volatile storage medium. Moreover, non-volatile data remains stored in a storage device unless you rewrite or delete it.
Electromagnets in the hard drives create positive or negative charges on the disk’s surface. Hence, those changes make binary code accessible as the actuator arm work and the moving disk in conjunction.
A hard disk drive has various advantages, including low cost and high storage capacities. These types of storage are majorly used for archive and backup purposes.
Now, look at different types of storage under the temporary storage category, to carry on.
7. ROM and Cache Memory
ROM or Read Only Memory can only be accessed from the PC, but you cannot write any data. Additionally, ROM does not misplace its data when you power off your PC.
You can store your essential and critical data in a ROM that supports turning on your PC. Furthermore, the BIOS of your PC is an example of ROM that initialises hardware and supports starting the overall PC.
On the other hand, your computer’s CPU features cache memory. Moreover, this storage is embedded in the processing chip on your CPU’s processor.
Conclusion
Apart from the ROM and cache memory, Read Only Memory (ROM) is another prime example of temporary storage. Moreover, you can access it on your computer’s CPU. However, the cache memory is quicker than Random Access Memory, but it has a much lower storage capacity. So, choose wisely.