Why_a_computer_system_needs_both_primary_and_secondary_storage
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A computer system needs both primary and secondary storage because they serve different purposes. Primary storage, such as RAM, is used for storing data that the computer is currently processing, allowing for quick access and retrieval of information. Secondary storage, like hard drives or SSDs, is used for long-term storage of data that needs to be retained even when the computer is powered off. Having both types of storage ensures that the computer can efficiently manage data for both immediate processing and long-term storage needs.
Unlike primary storage; secondary storage is not directly accessed by the CPU. Examples of secondary storage are hard drives, CD/DVD drives, flash, etc. Anything that can store data without losing it upon power down (non-volatile storage) is considered secondary storage.
I believe you can tell why it's a necessary component of a personal computer. Without it we would have no place to store our data.
Computers require secondary storage for many a reasons. Some are -
1. to gain speed
2. for safety reasons - if your computer is hit by viruses, it is safer this way as you will not loose any data even if the computer requires to be reformatted.
Primary memory is a fast access memory. Files of the application which are being currently running on the system are loaded in it which are important for working of that app.eg RAM, ROM
Secondary storage is used to store the large amount of data, like pictures, videos etc. It is slower than the primary memory eg. Hard Disk, CD.
Primary Memoris (RAM) are volatile in nature. Thus, they lose the data stored if the computer is switched off. They are also limited (2GB, 4GB, 8GB, etc) and expensive. So, secondary memory like Hard drives, DVDs, USB drives and Magnetic Tapes are used instead.
Secondary storage works as a sort of backup for when something could go wrong.
Primary storage, also known as main memory or internal memory, refers to the storage space in a computer that is directly accessible to the processor. Primary storage is typically used to store data and instructions that are currently being used or processed by the computer. Secondary storage, also known as external memory, refers to storage space that is not directly accessible to the processor, but is used to store data and instructions for longer periods of time. Secondary storage is typically used to store data that is not currently being used, but that needs to be kept for future reference. There are several key differences between primary storage and secondary storage: Speed: Primary storage is generally faster than secondary storage, as it is directly accessible to the processor. This means that the processor can access and retrieve data from primary storage more quickly than it can from secondary storage. Capacity: Primary storage is typically smaller in capacity than secondary storage. This is because primary storage is used to store data that is currently being used or processed, while secondary storage is used to store data that is not currently being used. Cost: Primary storage is typically more expensive than secondary storage, as it requires faster and more expensive memory chips. Volatility: Primary storage is generally volatile, meaning that it is lost when the power is turned off. In contrast, secondary storage is non-volatile, meaning that it retains data even when the power is turned off. Location: Primary storage is located inside the computer, while secondary storage is typically external to the computer and is connected to the computer through a port or interface.
The greatest nonvolatile storage capacity in the computer system is usually found in secondary storage and mostly on the hard disk. RAM on the other hand represents the greatest volatile storage capacity on a computer.
The six hardware components of a computer system are the central processing unit (CPU), primary storage, secondary storage, input devices, output devices, and the communication devices. The central unit of a computer is the CPU.
Primary storage, also known as main storage or memory , is the main area in a computer in which data is stored for quick access by the computer's processor . On today's smaller computers, especially personal computers and workstations, the term random access memory (RAM ) - or just memory - is used instead of primary or main storage, and the hard disk, diskette, CD, and DVD collectively describe secondary storage or auxiliary storage.The terms main storage and auxiliary storageoriginated in the days of the mainframe computer to distinguish the more immediately accessible data storage from storage that required input/output operations. An earlier term for main storage was core in the days when the main data storage contained ferrite cores.2) Primary storage is sometimes used to mean storage for data that is in active use in contrast to storage that is used for backup purposes. In this usage, primary storage is mainly the secondary storage referred to in meaning 1. (It should be noted that, although these two meanings conflict, the appropriate meaning is usually apparent from the context.)
An operating system in storage and loads it into memory.