This article gives a complete review of computer storage devices, lists many examples of different types as well as introduces how to make use of them.

1. Title: ComputerStorage Devices:Types&ExamplesandUsage
Keywords: computerstorage devices, datastorage device,type of computerstorage devices,
storage devicesof computer,listof storage devicesof computer
Description: This article gives a complete review of computer storage devices, lists many examples
of different types as well as introduces how to make use of them.
URL: https://www.partitionwizard.com/clone-disk/computer-storage-devices.html
Summary: This essay focuses on computer storage devices and introduces their definition & function,
types & examples and how to put it into usage. To learn more information about storage devices, you
can visit MiniTool partition software website.
Computer Storage Devices Definition/Functions/Advantages
What are storage deviceson a computer? Usually, storage devicesof computersrefertothe
hardware usedto store digital datapre-inputorgeneratedlaterwithinacomputer. Theycanretain
information temporarily(short-term) orpermanently (long-term).A storage devicecanalsobe
calleda storage mediaorstorage medium.
Withthe storage devicesforcomputers,you can write data intothem, carry data bythem, and read
data throughthem. A storage device isone of the basicand necessarycomponents/elementsof a
computer(desktop,laptop,notebookortablet). Exceptforhardware firmware,itcontainsalmostall
data and applications onacomputer.
Relatedarticle:DifferentTypesof HardDrives:WhichOne ShouldYouChoose

2. Hierarchy of Storage
Practically,nearlyall computersmake use of astorage hierarchytoarrange computerstorage.
Storage hierarchyputsfast,small yetexpensive computerstorage devicesclose tothe CPU(Central
ProcessingUnit),while slow,large yetcheap onesfaraway.
The fast storage mediaadoptingthe volatiletechnologies,whichlosedatawhenpowerisoff,are
referredtoas “memory”.While the slow storage optionsrelyingonthe non-volatile (persistent)
technology,whichretainsdatawhenthere isnoelectricity,are referred toas“storage”.
In contemporaryuse,“memory”isusuallyreadandwrite random-accessmemory (RAM) of
semiconductorstorage like dynamicRAM(DRAM) and StaticRAM(SRAM). Basedon the speed,
“memory”isdividedintoprocessorregisters(fastestyetsmallest),processorcache,andmain
memory(slowestyet largest) withregistersandcache memorylocate inside of the CPU.
While “storage”consistsof storage devicesandtheirmediaaren’tdirectlyaccessedbythe CPU,such
as hard drivesandoptical discdrives.
https://www.partitionwizard.com/clone-disk/memory-vs-storage.html
In history,“memory”isalsoknownas“core memory”,“mainmemory”,“internal memory”or“real
storage”.While non-volatile computerstorage devicesare alsocalled“secondarystorage”,“external
memory”or “auxiliary/peripheral storage”.
The lowera storage is inthe hierarchy,the lesseritsbandwidthand the greateritsaccesslatencyis
fromthe CPU.This dividesstorage intoprimary,secondary,tertiaryandoff-line storage.

3. Alt=Hierarchyof ComputerStorage
Primary Storage
Primarystorage,alsocalled aprime memory,mainmemoryorinternal memory,isoften referredto
as memory.Itis the onlydirectlyaccessible storage tothe CPU, such as RAMand ROM (Read-only
Memory).The CPU continuouslyreadsinstructionssavedinthe primarystorage andexecutesthem
as required.All dataactivelyoperatedonare alsosaved there ina uniformmanner.
Secondary Storage
Secondarystorage,alsocalledanexternal memoryorauxiliarystorage,differsfromthe primary
storage for itsindirectlyaccessiblebythe CPU. Computersoftenrelyoninput/output(I/O) channels
to access the secondarystorage andtransferthe desireddatato the primarystorage.
Examplesof secondary storage devices ofcomputer are harddiskdrives(HDDs) andsolid-state
drives(SSDs).

4. Alt=Seagate HDD
Tertiary Storage
Tertiarystorage,alsocalledtertiarymemory,isalevel below the secondarystorage.Typically,it
involvesaroboticmechanismthatmountsanddismountsremovablestorage mediainto computer
storage devicesunderthe systemrequirements.Suchkindof data is usuallycopiedtothe secondary
storage before beingused.
The tertiary storage is mainlyusedforarchivingrarelyaccessed dataanditis much slowerthanthe
secondarystorage. The tertiarystorage isprimarily usedforextraordinarilylarge datastorage like
tape librariesoroptical jukeboxes,accessedwithouthumanintervention.Thus,tertiarystorage is
alsoknownas nearline storage. Magnetictape,magneticcardand CD/DVD, forexample,are all
tertiarystorage.
Alt=Magnetic Cards
Kind reminder:
 Online storage isimmediatelyavailable forI/O.

5.  Nearline storage isnotimmediatelyavailable yetcanbe made online quicklywithouthuman
operation.
 Offline storage isnotimmediatelyavailable andneedshumanoperationtobe online.
Off-line Storage
Offline storage isakindof computerdigital datastorage ona mediathatisn’tcontrolledbythe CPU.
The mediaisusually recordedasa secondaryor tertiarystorage device andbe physicallyremovedor
disconnectedfromitsattachedcomputer. Toaccessit again,youmustinsertor connectit to your
computer.
Offline storage devicesare usuallyusedtodatatransferandlong-termdatastorage,andare also
calleddisconnectedorremovable computerstorage devices.Some examplesare floppydisk,
magnetictape,CD andDVD.
Alt=FloppyDisk
Type of Computer Storage Devices
Afterlearningthe hierarchyof storage, itisreasonable tosaythatthere are 4 typesof computer
storage devices:primary,secondary,tertiaryandofflinestorage devices.Asforthe common
secondarystorage devices,they canbe furtherdividedinto internal andexternal storage devicesof
computer accordingto theirlocation,insideoroutside of computersorservers. And,external
storage devicesare alsocalled portable computerstorage devices.
Basedon the material of the pc storage devices,there are semiconductorstorage devices, magnetic
storage devices andoptical storage devices:

6. Semiconductor Storage Devices
Semiconductormemorymakesuse of semiconductor-basedintegratedcircuit(IC) chipsetstosave
data and bothvolatile andnon-volatile formsof semiconductormemoryexist. Inmoderntimes,
primarystorage nearlyall consistsof dynamicvolatilesemiconductorRAM,especiallyDRAM.
At the beginningof the 21st century,a kindof non-volatile floating-gate semiconductormemory
knownas flashmemorybecame popularasoffline storage.Itisalsousedassecondarystorage with
an example of SSD.
Alt=SemiconductorStorage Devices
https://www.partitionwizard.com/partitionmanager/types-of-ram.html
Magnetic Storage Devices
Magneticstorage mediamakesuse of differentpatternsof magnetizationonamagneticallycoated
surface to containdata. Itis non-volatile. The datastoredwithinare readviaone or more read/write
headsthat mayinclude one ormore recordingtransducers.
The magneticheadonlyreachesa part of the mediasurface.Thus,the heador mediumorboth
mustmove relative toanothertoreadingdata.Below isa list of storage devicesofcomputer of
magnetictype:
 Floppydiskette
 HDD
 Magnetictape
 Magneticstrip
 Superdisk
 Zipdiskette
 Carousel memory

7. Alt=MagneticStorage Device
https://www.partitionwizard.com/partitionmagic/floppy-disk-vs-hard-disk.html
Optical Storage Devices
Typically,optical computerstorage devicesrefertooptical discs.Theysave dataindeformitieson
the surface of a circulardisc.To accessthe data on an optical discdrive,computersilluminate its
surface witha laserdiode andobserve the reflection.
Optical discstorage isnon-volatile.The deformitiescanbe permanent(read-onlymedia),formed
once (write once media),orreversible(recordable orread/writemedia).
 Read-onlymedia:CD,CD-ROM,DVD,BD-ROM
 Write-once media:CD-R,DVD-R,DVD+R,BD-R
 Recordable media:CD-RW,DVD-RW,DVD+RW,DVD-RAM,BD-RE
 Ultra-densityoptical (UDO)
 Blu-ray:BD-R,BD-RE, BD-RXL, BD-RE XL

8. Alt=Optical Storage Device
Other Storage Devices
 Flash memory: USB flash drive, thumb drive, jump drive, memory card, memory stick, NVMe,
SD card, SSD, etc.
 Paperdata storage:papertape,punchedcard and OMR (Optical Mark Recording)
 Online/cloudstorage: clouddrives(GoogleDrive, OneDrive,Dropbox,etc.),NAS&network
media
 RAID (RedundantArrayof IndependentDisk)
Alt=USB FlashDrive

9. Tip: The aboveonly list the common itemsin modern times,unpopularordiscontinued onesare
missed.
How to Make Use of Computer Storage Devices?
Thoughcomputer relatedstorage devices are mainlyforstoringdigital information,differenttypes
are usedindifferentsituationsandtheyare indifferentshapes&sizesdependingonthe needsand
functionalities.
Usually,the primarymemorystorage isusedtostore the data directlyusedbythe CPU;The
secondaryinternal storage isusedforsavingdigital datafrequentlyusedinyourdailylife;the
tertiarystoragesare servedas mass storage devices ofcomputer; while the secondaryexternal
storage,off-line storage,some flashmemorystorage andonline/cloudstorage are usedforcarrying
data for transferring.
https://www.partitionwizard.com/clone-disk/external-storage-transfer.html
Prepare a Computer Storage Device for Usage
If you geta new data storage device,an external harddrive,forinstance,the firstthingyoushould
do isto formatit properlyforfuture use.Here,youneedaprofessionalandreliable software like
MiniTool PartitionWizard.Downloadandinstall itonyourcomputer,install yourdrive intoyour
machine andlaunchthe program.
Pw-pro- trial
Step1. In the mainscreenof PartitionWizard, findthe targetdisk,right-clickonitandselect
Initialize GPTDisk (or Initialize MBRDisk).It dependsonthe original type of yourhard drive.

10. Alt=Choose Initialize toGPTDisk
Step 2. Previewthe change andconfirmitbyclicking Applyon the bottomleft.
Alt=ApplyDiskInitialization
Step 3. Whenthe initializingprocessfinishes,right-clickonthe unallocatedspace of the harddisk
againand choose Create.

11. Alt=Create PartitiononUnallocatedSpace
Step 4. In the pop-upwindow,specifythe detailsof the new partition:partitionlabel,primaryor
logical partition,drive letter,filesystem,clustersize aswellaspartition capacity.

12. Alt=Customize NewPartitionSpecifications
Step 5. Once again,checkfor the change the creationwill make.If there isnoproblem, justclick
Apply onthe lowerlefttocarry outthe partitioncreatingtask.

13. Alt=ApplyNewPartitionCreating
Until now,youare able to make full use of the formatted computerstorage device eitherforstorage
functionorfor tool function.
Backup Your System Disk with the Formatted External Hard Drive
Once you getyour external harddrive ready followingthe above guide,youcancontinue toback up
your operatingsystemdiskwithitunderthe helpof MiniTool PartitionWizard.
Pw-pro-ultimatebuy
Step 1. Right-clickthe OSdiskandchoose Copy.

14. Alt=Choose BackupSource Disk
Step 2. In the pop-upwindow,selectthe external harddiskasthe destinationof the systembackup
image.
Note:All dataon the targetdisk will bewiped outor overwritten if there is any.

15. Alt=Choose BackupDestinationDisk
Step 3. You needto selectacopy optiontogo on. If the destinationdiskisanSSD,youare
recommendedtocheck“Alignpartitionto1MB” to improve the performance of yourSSD.

16. Alt=Disk backupSettings
Step 4. Similarly,have alookatthe pendingoperationsthat are goingto be carriedout.If everything
iswhat youwish,justclick Applyto start the process.

17. Alt=Start Disk backup
Tip: The tenth pending operation “UpdateDisk3 BootConfigure” isto makesure the copied system
bootableon thenew disk.
Wait until the backupprogressfinishes. Then,youmayrebootyourcomputerintoBIOS,change its
firstbootdevice fromthe currentdiskto the new drive,andtry to bootup your machine tosee
whetheryoucan make itor not. It shouldbe successful if youjustdoasthe above guidance.
Besides,youcanalsouse the external harddrive asa bootable device bycreatingitasa bootable
mediastill withPartitionWizard.
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That is all aboutcomputerstorage devicesandtheiradvantages.If youstill wanttoknow something
aboutit, eitherleave amessage inbelowcommentpartordirectlycontactour supportteamat
support@minitool.com.
Computer Storage Devices FAQ
Whyneedcomputer storage devices?
Withouta storage media,a computercan’tsave any necessarydata.Thus,it cannotremember
anythingjustlike adumbbox. Withoutdata storage,the computercan’tdo simple taskssuchas
opena document,watcha video,take ascreenshotandso on.
What are the famouscomputer storage device manufacturers?

18. As fordifferenttypesof storage devices,the manufacturersare unlike.ForRAM,the top5
manufacturersare Corsair,G.Skill,Micron,OCZandMushkin.For HDDs or SSDs,popularbrandsare
Seagate,WesternDigital,Toshiba,etc. And,forUSBflashdrives,there are SanDisk,Samsungand
Kingston.
What are the best/latest storage devices of computer?
Currently, the storage devices are used by most computer users are RAM, HDD, SSD, RAID,
NAS, cloud storage. The latest storage technologies are NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express),
flash memory, all-flasharrays(AFAs),3Doptical datastorage andlight-inducedmagnetization
meltinginmagneticphotoconductors.