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Memory vs. Hard Disk

A computer architecture is a complex system and there are many terms which although look very similar, but are different from each other with the slightest of variations. There are many devices used in a computer hardware which performs several functions but is related to each other and two such devices are known as a hard disk and memory. The differences between them will be discussed in this space. The main one is that a hard disk is a device which stores memory while the memory is the information which is stored on a hard disk. The memory on a hard disk can be stored magnetically only while information of a memory device is stored in the form of electric signals and data. There are other ways of showing this difference too, for example, a memory can be lost when power is shut down but it can still exist if stored on a hard disk. Another way of telling the difference is that upgrading the space for memory is a relatively difficult process while adding another hard disk on the computer is an easy process. There are many other differences which will be explained in the end while a detailed explanation of both these types is given in the next two paragraphs.

Key Differences

Upgrading the space for memory is a relatively difficult process while adding another hard disk on the computer is an easy process.
Memory helps the computer runs in a faster manner while hard disk does not play any such function.
Memory can be lost in most cases when power is shut down immediately while the if the memory is on a hard disk it will not be lost.
Data is stored on a hard disk in the form of magnetic memory while it is stored on a memory stick in the form of electric formats.
The hard disk is the device which stores memory while the memory is the information which is stored on a hard disk.

Comparison Chart

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The process in which information is obtained and stored and then encoded in a manner that it can be obtained at a later time.
This is a data storage device which is used to store and access information which is present on the computer.
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Data Loss

can be lost in most cases when power is shut down immediately
Anything on it stays there in case of power shortage

Information

Data is stored on a memory stick in the form of electric formats.
Data is stored on a hard disk in the form of magnetic memory

Price

Free
Costly

Memory and Hard Disk Definitions

Memory

The mental faculty of retaining and recalling past experience.

Memory

The act or an instance of remembering; recollection
Spent the afternoon lost in memory.

Memory

All that a person can remember
It hasn't happened in my memory.
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Memory

Something that is remembered
Pleasant childhood memories.

Memory

The fact of being remembered; remembrance
Dedicated to their parents' memory.

Memory

The period of time covered by the remembrance or recollection of a person or group of persons
Within the memory of humankind.

Memory

A circuit or device that stores digital data.

Memory

Capacity for storing information
Two gigabytes of memory.

Memory

(Statistics) The set of past events affecting a given event in a stochastic process.
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Memory

The capacity of a material, such as plastic or metal, to return to a previous shape after deformation.

Memory

(Immunology) The ability of the immune system to respond faster and more powerfully to subsequent exposure to an antigen.

Memory

(uncountable) The ability of the brain to record information or impressions with the facility of recalling them later at will.
Memory is a facility common to all animals.

Memory

A record of a thing or an event stored and available for later use by the organism.
I have no memory of that event.
My wedding is one of my happiest memories.

Memory

(computing) The part of a computer that stores variable executable code or data (RAM) or unalterable executable code or default data (ROM).
This data passes from the CPU to the memory.

Memory

The time within which past events can be or are remembered.
In recent memory
In living memory

Memory

Which returns to its original shape when heated
Memory metal
Memory plastic

Memory

(obsolete) A memorial.

Memory

A term of venery for a social group of elephants, normally called a herd.

Memory

The faculty of the mind by which it retains the knowledge of previous thoughts, impressions, or events.
Memory is the purveyor of reason.

Memory

The reach and positiveness with which a person can remember; the strength and trustworthiness of one's power to reach and represent or to recall the past; as, his memory was never wrong.

Memory

The actual and distinct retention and recognition of past ideas in the mind; remembrance; as, in memory of youth; memories of foreign lands.

Memory

The time within which past events can be or are remembered; as, within the memory of man.
And what, before thy memory, was doneFrom the begining.

Memory

Something, or an aggregate of things, remembered; hence, character, conduct, etc., as preserved in remembrance, history, or tradition; posthumous fame; as, the war became only a memory.
The memory of the just is blessed.
That ever-living man of memory, Henry the Fifth.
The Nonconformists . . . have, as a body, always venerated her [Elizabeth's] memory.

Memory

A memorial.
These weeds are memories of those worser hours.

Memory

Something that is remembered;
Search as he would, the memory was lost

Memory

The cognitive processes whereby past experience is remembered;
He can do it from memory
He enjoyed remembering his father

Memory

The power of retaining and recalling past experience;
He had a good memory when he was younger

Memory

An electronic memory device;
A memory and the CPU form the central part of a computer to which peripherals are attached

Memory

The area of cognitive psychology that studies memory processes;
He taught a graduate course on learning and memory

Definition of Hard Disk

This is a data storage device which is used to store and access information which is present on the device, it is entered into the device by the user who wants to keep it at a place where it can be accessed at any time. This can be done in the form of folders and files while information such as documents, videos, audio and even pictures. The structure is simpler where the rotating disks are placed which is coated with magnetic material. These are connected with magnetic heads which are placed on the moving arm that helps to read and writing the data. This data is accessed through RAM which means the information which is present on the device can be opened without any proper sequence. It was first introduced in 1956 and has increased its space over the years. It has been produced by more than 150 companies over the years but the most famous ones are Seagate and Toshiba. The size of normal HDD is 3.5 inches for computers while the size for a laptop is around 2.5 inches. USB are the devices which have originated from the hard disks and gaining popularity.

Definition of Memory

In simple words, memory is the process in which information is obtained and stored and then encoded in a manner that it can be obtained at a later time. This allows information from the outside sources to be arranged in a proper manner, this data is changed into codes which are only understood through the encoding and gives it a safe space to exist where it cannot be lost. This is a computer hardware which is used to store information in such a manner that it can be used at any time by the computer and the functions keep on running. The memory is operated at high speeds and can exist in several places such as RAM and hard disk, there are different cases in which memory is used and kept safe on these devices which will not be favorable to discuss in this space.

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