[5.0] Storage

Which of the following is the component of a storage device that physically holds data?

• Read/Write Mechanism

• Device Controller

• Storage Medium

• Bus Interface

Which of the following is the component of a storage device that reads or writes data to and from the storage medium?

• Read/Write Mechanism

• Device Controller

• Storage Medium

• Bus Interface

Which of the following is the component of a storage device that provides the interface between the storage device and the system bus?

• Read/Write Mechanism

• Device Controller

• Storage Medium

• Bus Interface

Which of the following are components of a storage device?

• Read/Write Mechanism

• Device Controller

• Storage Medium

• Bus Interface

• Memory Buffer

Why is no single storage technology considered optimal for all characteristics?

• Because different applications require different trade-offs in speed, cost, and capacity

• Because storage devices are all identical in function

• Because storage mediums do not affect performance

• Because faster storage is always better regardless of cost

Answer explanation

Ex.

Primary Storage is fast but it is volatile (the data is lost once it is turned off).

Secondary Storage has a larger storage capacity but they are slow.

Which of the following are the key characteristics of storage devices?

• 1. 1. speed

  2. 2. volatility

  3. 3. access method

  4. 4. portability

  5. 5. cost

  6. 6. capacity

• d

• d

• d

What does the speed of a storage device refer to?

• The time required to read and write data

• The amount of data a storage device can transfer per unit of time

• The time required to transfer a file to another device

• The time required to access the storage physically

Which characteristic differentiates primary and secondary storage?

• Capacity

• Speed

• Portability

• Cost

Answer explanation

Primary storage must be very fast because CPU directly interacts with it (want to avoid wait states).

Secondary storage must have good speed because programs and large data are stored here before being loaded into primary storage.

What does access time refer to in a storage device?

• The time required to transfer a file to another device

• The time required to perform a complete read/write operation

• The time needed to delete a file permanently

• The time required to access the storage physically

Answer explanation

Access time is expressed in nanosecond (ns).

What is assumed about access time unless otherwise stated?

• It is different for reading and writing

• It is the same for both reading and writing

• It is longer for reading than writing

• It is longer for writing than reading