Secondary Storage - IGCSE Computer Science Revision Notes 28/01/2025, 19:42

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Launchpad Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE C

Secondary
Storage
Written by: James
Woodhouse
Reviewed by: Lucy
Kirkham
Updated on 2 September
2024

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Secondary
Storage
Storage devices are non-
volatile secondary storage,
that retain digital data within
a computer system
They provide a means of
storing, accessing, and
retrieving data, which can
include software
applications, documents,
images, videos, and more
There are 3 types of storage:
Magnetic
Solid-state (flash

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Secondary Storage - IGCSE Computer Science Revision Notes 28/01/2025, 19:42

memory)
Optical

Computer systems need

both primary and secondary
storage to operate
Both types of storage play a
crucial role in the operation
of a computer system
A quick comparison of
primary and secondary
storage shows:

Primary Secondary

Volatile (with the Non-

exception of volatile
ROM)

Small capacity Large

capacity

Why do you need

secondary
storage?
A computer needs
secondary storage for long
term storage of programs
and data that are currently
not in use
Secondary storage is
needed as ROM is read only
and RAM is volatile
Secondary storage holds
the programs and data
whilst the computer is turned
o" (non-volatile)
Performance of secondary
storage is slower than
primary storage but

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Secondary Storage - IGCSE Computer Science Revision Notes 28/01/2025, 19:42

capacity is much higher

which makes it perfect for
backup & archive of data
files

What are the

characteristics of
secondary
storage?
Capacity - What is the
maximum amount of data
that can be stored?
Speed - How fast can data
be read from and written to?
(R/W)
Cost - How much does it
cost?
Portability - How easy is it to
move around? What is the
physical size? Weight?
Durability - How robust is
the storage?
Reliability - What is the
probability that the device
will consistently perform its
function?

Worked Example
A games console has secondary
storage.

State, using an example, why the

games console needs
secondary storage [2]

How to answer this question

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Secondary Storage - IGCSE Computer Science Revision Notes 28/01/2025, 19:42

They keyword is 'why', why

does a games console need
secondary storage? give an
example, do not just
describe what secondary
storage is!

Answer

To store data once the

power is turned o" /
permanently // for non-
volatile storage
Examples could include:
Storing games
Save games
User data/profiles
Downloaded
content/applications/updates

Magnetic
Storage
What is magnetic
storage? Try 7 days
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Magnetic storage is a type of
non-volatile media that uses
magnets (polarity) to store
Revision Notes binary 0s and 1s
A magnetic hard disk is made
Topic 2 up of several metal discs
Input & Output Devices coated with a magnetic
material
These are called platters
Input Devices
Iron particles on each
platter are magnetised
Output Devices to represent a 0 or 1

Sensors
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Secondary Storage - IGCSE Computer Science Revision Notes 28/01/2025, 19:42

Sensors

Topic 3 READHEAD-

Data Storage

Primary Storage
Each platter is divided by
concentric circles creating
Secondary Storage
several tracks and wedge
shaped sectors
SECTOR-
Virtual Memory Where they intersect is a
track sector

Cloud Storage

Topic 4
Network Hardware

TRACK

SECTOR-
The hard drive spins the
metal disk(s) at a high speed
(typically around 5400−
7200 RPM) using a motor
CYLINDER-
A read/write arm, controlled
by an actuator, moves the
head over the surface of the
disc to the location of the
data
The data is read/written
using electromagnets

Advantages Disadvantages

Capacity - Durability -
High Moving parts
storage can get
damaged if
dropped

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Secondary Storage - IGCSE Computer Science Revision Notes 28/01/2025, 19:42

Cost - Low Portability -

per Heavy & bulky
gigabyte making them
less convenient
for transport

Speed - Reliability -
Moderate Prone to
read/write mechanical
access failure

Noise - Loud
(spinning disks)

Solid-state
(Flash Memory)
What is solid state
(flash memory)?
Solid-state (flash memory)
storage is a type of non-
volatile media that uses
electronic circuits to store
binary 0s and 1s
Examples of solid state
storage devices include:
Solid state drives (SSD)
- replacing magnetic
hard drives as a
computers primary
secondary storage
device as capacity
increases and cost
decreases
USB flash memory -
most common form of
portable storage device

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Secondary Storage - IGCSE Computer Science Revision Notes 28/01/2025, 19:42

portable storage device

It uses NAND and NOR gates

in electrical circuits to
persistently control the flow
of electrons

Solid-state (flash memory) is

memory made up of tiny 0000
cells that can contain one bit
of data (1 or 0)
Each cell contains a
transistor that acts as a
switch that can be turned on
or o"
The transistor contains two
main parts:
Control gate - top layer
of transistor, connects
to circuit and controls if
current can flow through
the transistor
Floating gate - can hold
a charge (like a tiny
rechargeable battery)
and is sandwiched
between two layers of
insulating material
(Oxide)

To store data a charge is

placed on the floating gate
A high voltage is applied
to the control gate,
which allows electrons
to be pushed through
the oxide layer and onto
the floating gate

To remove data, a high

voltage charge is applied in
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Secondary Storage - IGCSE Computer Science Revision Notes 28/01/2025, 19:42

voltage charge is applied in

the opposite direction,
pulling the electrons o" the
floating gate

Advantages Disadvantages

Capacity - Cost - Very

Medium/high high per
storage gigabyte

Speed - Very Reliability -

fast Limited
read/write read/write
access cycles

Durability -
No moving
parts

Portability -
Small and no
moving parts

Noise -
Silent

Optical Storage
What is optical
storage?
Optical storage is a type of
non-volatile media that uses
lasers to burn the surface of
a disk, creating pits and
lands suitable for storing
binary 0s and 1s
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Secondary Storage - IGCSE Computer Science Revision Notes 28/01/2025, 19:42

binary 0s and 1s
Examples of optical storage
include:
Blu-rays have the
largest capacity
CDs have the lowest
capacity
CD-R are read-only (you
cannot save data on to
them)
CD-RW can be written
to and read from
DVD-RW can be written
to and read from

All optical devices work by

shining a laser at the disk
and processing the
reflection
An arm moves the laser
across the surface of the
disk
In CD-Rs a laser burns the
data, permanently on to the
disk, by creating pits and
lands
The laser is also used to read
the data from the pits and
lands
When the laser light hits the
point where the pit changes
into a land or vice versa the
light scatters and is not
reflected back as well.
This is captured by a sensor
and can be interpreted as a
change in the binary value

Advantages Disadvantages

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Secondary Storage - IGCSE Computer Science Revision Notes 28/01/2025, 19:42

Cost - Very Capacity -

low per Very low
gigabyte

Durability - Speed - Very

No moving slow
parts read/write
access

Portability - Reliability -
Small and no Prone to
moving parts scratches

Noise -
Silent

Worked Example
Zarmeen has purchased a new
tablet computer. The tablet has
an internal secondary storage
device.

The storage device is a solid

state device.

1. Give three benefits of the

tablet having a solid state
device instead of a
magnetic device [3]
2. Give two drawbacks of the
tablet having a solid state
device instead of a
magnetic device [2]

Answers
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Secondary Storage - IGCSE Computer Science Revision Notes 28/01/2025, 19:42

Answers

Benefits
Faster access /
read/write speeds
Smaller in physical size
More durable // no
moving parts
Drawbacks
More expensive (per
gigabyte)
Smaller capacity
(usually)
Limited number of
read/write cycles

Guidance

Portable is not enough on

it's own
No moving parts is not
enough on it's own

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