media disk.

Storage drives can be installed inside the computer case, such as a hard
LESSON 2: PERFROM MENSURATION AND CALCULATION drive.
Floppy Drive- A floppy drive, or floppy disk drive, is a storage device that uses
removable 3.5-inch floppy disks. The floppy drive can be used to boot the computer if
MEMORY
it contains a bootable floppy disk. A 5.25-inch floppy drive is older technology and is
Although memory is technically any form of electronic storage, it is used most
seldom used.
often to identify fast, temporary forms of storage. If your computer's CPU had to
Hard Drive- A hard drive, or hard disk drive, is a magnetic storage device that is
constantly access the hard drive to retrieve every piece of data it needs, it would
installed inside the computer. The hard drive is used as permanent storage for data
operate very slowly. When the information is kept in memory, the CPU can access it
Optical Drive- An optical drive is a storage device that uses lasers to read data on the
much more quickly. Most forms of memory are intended to store data temporarily.
optical media. There are three types of optical drives: Compact Disc (CD), Digital
Versatile Disc (DVD) and Blu-ray Disc (BD).
Read-only memory (ROM) chips are located in the motherboard. ROM chips
External Flash Drive- An external flash drive, also known as a thumb drive, is a
contain instructions that can be directly accessed by the CPU. Basic instructions for
removable storage device that connects to a USB port.
booting the computer and loading the operating system are stored in ROM. ROM
chips retain their contents even when the computer is powered down. The contents
Types of Drive Interfaces
cannot be erased or changed by normal means.
1. IDE – Integrated Drive Electronics, also called Advanced Technology
Random access memory (RAM) is the temporary storage for data and programs that
Attachment (ATA) is an early drive controller interface that connects
are being accessed by the CPU. RAM is volatile memory, which means that the
computers and hard disk drives. An IDE interface uses a 40-pin connector.
contents are erased when the computer is powered off. The more RAM in a computer,
2. SATA – Serial ATA refers to the serial version of the ATA drive controller
the more capacity the computer has to hold and process large programs and files, as
interface. A SATA interface uses a 7-pin data connector.
well as enhance system performance.
3. SCSI – Small Computer System Interface is a drive controller interface that
can connect up to 15 drives. SCSI can connect both internal and external
drives. An SCSI interface uses a 50-pin, 68-pin, or 80-pin connector.

Caches are designed to alleviate this bottleneck by making the data used most often
by the CPU instantly available.
Registers are memory cells built right into the CPU that contain specific data needed
by the CPU, particularly the Arithmetic and Logic Unit (ALU). An integral part of the
CPU itself, they are controlled directly by the compiler that sends information for the
CPU to process.

STORAGE DRIVES
Storage drives read or write information on magnetic or optical storage media.
The drive can be used to store data permanently or to retrieve information from a