Storage Peripherals

Memory:-

SD-RAM – Single Data Random Access Memory is commonly used in computers for temporary storage of data. Because it needs a constant power source to contain stored data, it loses all information it contains when the power is cut or the computer is turned off. Its access time is measured in nanoseconds (ns) because the time it takes to access data, change a 1 to a 0 or 0 to a 1 is so small. It comes in specifications of PC100, PC133, PC166, PC200, PC233 and PC266, the best specification being PC266.

DIMM – This type of memory is specially designed for 128 pin DIMM memory slots. The advantage of this is that more information can be transferred at one time and more information stored on one slot.

DD-RAM – Double Data Random Access Memory is twice as fast as Single Data RAM because two sets of information are transferred at one time. One disadvantage of this type of storage is that it needs a double data processor to comprehend the transfer of data. The only processor that has this capability at the moment is the Pentium 4. This method of storage also requires a constant supply of electricity.

HDD:-

A Hard Disk Drive is the most common method of permanent storage because of its good capacity capabilities and its good data access time. Hard Drives come in a wide range of specifications of storage capacities, access time and data transfer rate. A Hard Disks speed is measured in Rotations Per Second (rpm). A Hard Disks capacity is measured is Megabytes or Gigabytes depending on how large it is and is made up of Cylinders and Clusters. Its data capacity also relies on the format of the Hard Drive. The newest format for most Hard Drives is the FAT32 system (File Allocation Table 32).

Zip Drive:-

This uses cassettes as a way of retrieving and storing data. The capacity of these disks can be anything from 50 to 250 megabytes per disk.

31/2 Inch Floppy Drive:-

This is the most common of the removable storage family. It uses floppy disks that range from 1.44 to 2.88 megabytes in capacity and can be double sided.

51/4 Inch Floppy Drive:-

This was one of the first removable storage devices made and is very rare these days because of its low performance and little capabilities. The disks for this device are usually only 218 kilobytes in capacity.

Cassette Drive:-

This is one of the earliest forms of removable storage dating back to the first computers where data was stored on the magnetic ribbon of cassette tapes. One of the earliest examples of this was the Commodore 64 entertainment system. However this idea of storage was soon scrapped due to the unreliability of the length of time that data could be accurately stored on the cassette. Deterioration or variation of the magnetic field produced by the ribbon causes binary 1’s or 0’s to be read as their opposites, therefore data would become corrupt in a short space of time. These days cassettes are used for the storage of audio data.

CD-R/W:-

This is a method which intails storing data on CD’s with the the usual binary method (0-1). The usual capacity of one CD is 650Mb. However, CD’s are available in different capacities such as 700, 750 and even 800Mb. This is the most popular of storage because a very small percentage of information distributors require a method of storage with a greater capacity than 650Mb.

DVD-RAM:-

This is one of the newest and greatest of designs for data storage because of the massive capacities that can be reached with one of these DVD’s. A Digital Video Disk or Digital Versatile Disk can hold up to 27Gb of information. That is more than most Hard-Disks can contain these days. This method is becoming evermore popular because of its efficiency as a storage product. It’s cheap, high capacity and very small (the same size as an ordinary CD). The reason why this disk has such an advantage over the CD is because its storage method is different to that of the original 0-1 binary system. It stores data using the denary method which is the same principle as the binary system but has available digits 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 and 9.

MTD’s – Memory Technology Devices (FLASH)

These are very small devices designed for almost instant storage of data. This method of storage has not long been researched but is used in many communication devices such as mobile phones (sim cards), and phone cards. This gold coloured chip can usually only contain upto 1Mb of information but is used because of its speed as a storage device and because it is so small.

Input & Output Peripherals (Listed)

Bus Devices

3D Accelerators / Graphics Cards

Display Adapters

Global Positioning Devices

Human Interface – eg. Touchscreen Monitors

Devices Specialised Audio Controlls

Device Specifically Designed For Human Use

Imaging Devices – eg. Scanners

Digital Cameras

Ion Cameras

Digital Camcorders

Laser Detection Devices

Infrared Devices

Keyboards

Comunication – eg. Modems

Devices Ethernet Adapters

LAN, ISDN, ADSL Connection Devices

Display Devices – eg. TFT Monitors

CRT Monitors

Plasmascreens

VGA Monitors

SVGA Monitors

CTX Monitors

Monochrome Monitors

PVGA Monitors

Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD)

Mouse

Network Adapters

PCMCIA Cards

Printers

SCSI Controller Cards

Sound Cards

Game Controllers – eg. Joypads

Joysticks

Flight Yokes

Hat Controllers

Steering Wheels + Pedals

System Devices – eg. Advanced Configuration Devices

Power Interface Bios

Plug and Play BIOS

USB Hubs

Ports – eg. Com (1-65536)

LPT

Serial

Digital