16 Questions
What is the primary function of storage drives in a computer?
To store data permanently
What is the primary difference between magnetic hard drives and solid state drives?
Presence of moving parts
What is the purpose of the actuator arm in a magnetic hard drive?
To write and read data
What is the advantage of using hybrid drives (SSHDs)?
Combines large capacity and low cost of magnetic disks with speed of SSDs
What is the recommended practice to avoid data loss?
Always back up your data
What is the transfer speed of serial ATA interface used in magnetic hard drives?
6 gigabits per second
What is a characteristic of solid state drives (SSDs)?
They use flash memory chips
What is the purpose of the firmware in hybrid drives (SSHDs)?
To decide where data is stored
What is a common requirement for storage devices in computers?
Non-volatility
Which type of storage drive uses a combination of magnetic disks and flash memory?
Hybrid Drives (SSHDs)
What is a characteristic of magnetic hard drives?
Contains sealed case with rotating magnetic disks
Why are solid state drives (SSDs) more resistant to physical shock?
They use flash memory with no moving parts
What is a benefit of using solid state drives (SSDs) over magnetic hard drives?
They are faster and more energy-efficient
What is the purpose of the firmware in hybrid drives (SSHDs)?
To decide where data is stored
Why is it important to back up your data?
Because data can be lost due to wear and tear
What is the form factor of solid state drives (SSDs) used in laptops?
2.5 inch
Study Notes
Types of Computer Memory
- There are two main types of computer memory: primary memory (temporary, RAM) and secondary memory (permanent, storage drives)
Storage Drives
- Every computer needs a place to store data (photos, documents, video, audio files, operating system)
- Storage drives need to be non-volatile, retaining data even when power is turned off
Magnetic Hard Drives
- Introduced by IBM in 1956, still used today
- Sealed case contains magnetic disks that rotate at high speeds (5400, 7200, or 10,000 RPM)
- Actuator arm writes data to or reads data from disks
- 3.5 inch drives are used in desktop computers and servers, 2.5 inch drives are used in laptops
- Use serial ATA interface with transfer speeds of 6 gigabits per second
Solid State Drives (SSDs)
- Use flash memory chips to store data, no moving parts
- Faster data transfer, quiet, and energy efficient
- Come in 2.5 inch rectangular form factor or M.2 form factor
- More resistant to physical shock, more expensive than hard drives
- Can be used on desktop and laptop computers
Hybrid Drives (SSHDs)
- Combine magnetic disks and flash memory
- Use large capacity and low cost of magnetic disks, with the speed of an SSD
- Firmware learns and decides where data is stored, caching frequently accessed files in flash memory
Important Reminders
- Always back up your data, as all drives will crash eventually due to wear and tear
Computer Memory
- Two main types of computer memory: primary memory (temporary, RAM) and secondary memory (permanent, storage drives)
Storage Drives
- Store data such as photos, documents, video, audio files, and operating system
- Need to be non-volatile, retaining data even when power is turned off
Magnetic Hard Drives
- Introduced by IBM in 1956, still used today
- Contain sealed case with magnetic disks that rotate at high speeds (5400, 7200, or 10,000 RPM)
- Use actuator arm to write data to or read data from disks
- Come in 3.5 inch (desktop computers and servers) and 2.5 inch (laptops) sizes
- Use serial ATA interface with transfer speeds of 6 gigabits per second
Solid State Drives (SSDs)
- Use flash memory chips to store data, with no moving parts
- Offer faster data transfer, quiet operation, and energy efficiency
- Available in 2.5 inch rectangular and M.2 form factors
- More resistant to physical shock, but more expensive than hard drives
- Suitable for desktop and laptop computers
Hybrid Drives (SSHDs)
- Combine magnetic disks and flash memory
- Offer large capacity and low cost of magnetic disks, with speed of an SSD
- Firmware learns and decides where data is stored, caching frequently accessed files in flash memory
Data Protection
- Always back up data, as all drives will eventually crash due to wear and tear
Computer Memory
- Two main types of computer memory: primary memory (temporary, RAM) and secondary memory (permanent, storage drives)
Storage Drives
- Store data such as photos, documents, video, audio files, and operating system
- Need to be non-volatile, retaining data even when power is turned off
Magnetic Hard Drives
- Introduced by IBM in 1956, still used today
- Contain sealed case with magnetic disks that rotate at high speeds (5400, 7200, or 10,000 RPM)
- Use actuator arm to write data to or read data from disks
- Come in 3.5 inch (desktop computers and servers) and 2.5 inch (laptops) sizes
- Use serial ATA interface with transfer speeds of 6 gigabits per second
Solid State Drives (SSDs)
- Use flash memory chips to store data, with no moving parts
- Offer faster data transfer, quiet operation, and energy efficiency
- Available in 2.5 inch rectangular and M.2 form factors
- More resistant to physical shock, but more expensive than hard drives
- Suitable for desktop and laptop computers
Hybrid Drives (SSHDs)
- Combine magnetic disks and flash memory
- Offer large capacity and low cost of magnetic disks, with speed of an SSD
- Firmware learns and decides where data is stored, caching frequently accessed files in flash memory
Data Protection
- Always back up data, as all drives will eventually crash due to wear and tear
Learn about the two main types of computer memory, primary and secondary, and explore storage drives, including magnetic hard drives.
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