What are the primary storage devices?

In this case, primary storage typically refers to random access memory (RAM), while secondary storage refers to the computer's internal hard drive. RAM, commonly called "memory," is considered primary storage, since it stores data that is directly accessible by the computer's CPU.Aug 7, 2009 read more

Primary storage's key differences from the others are that it is directly accessible by the CPU, it is volatile, and it is non-removable. Related pages See our storage device definition for a full list of storage devices. read more

The two key categories of storage as it relates to your computer are primary storage and secondary storage. Primary storage also goes by the names main storage, main memory or internal memory. Examples of primary storage in your computer are random access memory and cache memory. read more

While the computer's primary internal hard drive is the most common secondary storage device, other devices may be considered secondary storage devices as well. These include additional internal hard drives, external hard drives, and optical drives, which are used for CDs, DVDs, and other optical media. read more