3.3 – Storage Devices: Storage Devices
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Questions and Answers

What feature allows hard drives to retain information even when powered off?

  • Non-volatility (correct)
  • Magnetic platters
  • Mechanical components
  • Random access

What is the primary function of the actuator arm within a hard drive?

  • To control the rotational speed
  • To repair data
  • To move back and forth to access data (correct)
  • To spin the platters

What does a higher rotational speed in a hard drive improve?

  • Read and write speed (correct)
  • Data accuracy
  • Durability of components
  • Non-volatility

What is the typical rotational speed for a low-end hard drive?

<p>5400 RPM (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the data retrieval speed as the rotational speed of the platters increases?

<p>It increases (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential disadvantage of hard drives due to their mechanical components?

<p>Risk of mechanical failure (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which component specifically locates, retrieves, and writes data on the spinning platters?

<p>Read/write head (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does rotational latency change with an increase in platter speed?

<p>It lowers (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What component must be fastened to the motherboard after being slid into the M.2 interface?

<p>SSD (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key limitation of flash memory?

<p>There is a finite limit to the number of write cycles. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a common example of flash memory?

<p>Blu-ray Disc (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why are flash drives not recommended for archival storage?

<p>They can be easily lost or damaged. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main advantage of using optical drives for archival media?

<p>They are capable of storing data indefinitely once written. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following types of flash memory is the smallest?

<p>microSD card (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What technology do optical drives use to read data from discs?

<p>Laser light (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to have backups of data stored on flash drives?

<p>Flash drives are vulnerable to physical damage. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant advantage of solid-state drives (SSDs) compared to traditional hard drives?

<p>SSDs provide much faster performance. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the acronym NVMe stand for?

<p>Non-volatile Memory Express (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which interface is specifically designed to work with SSDs providing higher throughput than SATA?

<p>PCIe (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary limitation of using a SATA connection with an SSD?

<p>SATA connection is designed for spinning hard drives. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What physical size of drives is common in laptops?

<p>2-and-1/2 inch drives (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which M.2 interface type typically provides the highest throughput?

<p>M key (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does mSATA stand for?

<p>mini-SATA (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What maximum throughput capability does SATA revision 3 offer?

<p>600 megabytes per second (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a benefit of SSDs?

<p>Louder operation (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which condition must be verified before buying an M.2-based SSD for a motherboard?

<p>The motherboard supports NVMe for maximum performance. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main reason for the evolution from SATA to NVMe?

<p>To achieve higher data transfer rates and lower latency. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of storage device is commonly found as M.2 drives in newer systems?

<p>SSDs (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why were mSATA drives developed?

<p>To reduce the size of components in devices (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which technology provides a more compact form factor than traditional SATA?

<p>mSATA (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Hard Drive

A type of storage device that uses spinning magnetic platters to store data. It retains information even when powered off.

Rotational Latency

The time it takes for the disk to rotate to the desired data location. It's shorter for faster spinning drives.

Random Access

The ability to access any data on the drive directly without needing to go through other data first. This is different from tape drives.

Non-volatile

Refers to a storage device that retains data even when there is no power.

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Rotational Speed (RPM)

The speed at which the platters in a hard drive rotate. Faster speeds reduce rotational latency.

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Mechanical Components

The moving parts inside a hard drive that can eventually wear out, leading to drive failure.

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Actuator Arm

The part of the hard drive that moves back and forth over the platters to read and write data.

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Heads

Small devices at the end of the actuator arm that read and write data onto the platters.

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Optical Drive

A type of storage that uses a laser to read information from small pits or differently colored areas on a physical disc.

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SD card

A type of flash memory that is commonly used in cameras, phones, and other devices.

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Flash memory

A non-volatile storage type that uses flash memory.

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Compact flash

A type of flash memory that is commonly used in older systems.

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microSD

A type of flash memory card that is smaller in size, suitable for mobile phones and small devices.

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CD-ROM

A type of storage that can be written to multiple times using a laser.

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DVD-ROM

A type of storage that uses a laser to read information from a disc, with higher storage capacity than CDs.

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Blu-ray

A type of storage that uses a laser to read information from a disc, with the highest storage capacity among common optical drives.

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Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

A type of storage device that uses spinning platters with multiple heads for reading and writing data.

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Solid-State Drive (SSD)

A storage device that uses non-volatile memory and has no moving parts, resulting in faster performance and greater durability compared to HDDs.

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Serial ATA (SATA)

A common interface for connecting hard drives and SSDs to a computer, offering a standard way to transfer data.

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Mini-SATA (mSATA)

A smaller version of SATA specifically designed for mobile devices and smaller form factors, allowing for more compact storage solutions.

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M.2

A modern interface for connecting drives, known for its compact size and high-speed performance, often used with SSDs.

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Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe)

A protocol designed to maximize the speed and performance of SSDs, delivering lower latency and higher throughput compared to SATA.

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Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI)

The standard protocol used by SATA to transfer data between a storage drive and a computer's system memory.

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B and M Key M.2 Interface

A type of M.2 interface that supports both B and M key SSDs, offering flexibility in drive selection.

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M Key M.2 Interface

A type of M.2 interface that only supports M key SSDs, limiting drive compatibility.

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B Key M.2 Interface

A type of M.2 interface that only supports B key SSDs, limiting drive compatibility.

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Throughput

The speed at which data can be transferred between a storage device and a computer, measured in megabytes per second.

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Latency

The time delay between a request for data and the actual delivery of that data, often measured in milliseconds.

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Form Factor

The physical size and shape of a storage device, often used to classify different drive types.

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PCI Express (PCIe)

A standard bus interface commonly found in computers, providing a high-speed connection for various components, including SSDs.

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Installing an M.2 Drive

The process of connecting an M.2 drive to a motherboard, typically involving a simple installation step.

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Study Notes

Hard Drives

  • Hard drives store information on spinning magnetic platters.
  • They are non-volatile; data persists even when powered off.
  • Access is random, unlike tape drives.
  • Mechanical components (spinning platters, actuator arms) limit speed.
  • Mechanical parts are prone to failure; hard drives are prone to failure.
  • Data is stored on spinning platters; platters rotate on a spindle.
  • Actuator arms control heads that move over the platters.
  • Heads precisely locate, retrieve, and write data.
  • Platter speed (RPM) affects data access speed.
  • Common low-end speed is 5,400 RPM, resulting in 5.5ms latency.
  • Faster speed (e.g., 15,000 RPM) reduces latency to 2ms.
  • Multiple platters and heads allow reading/writing from multiple places.
  • Common sizes: 3.5-inch, 2.5-inch, and M.2 (smaller).
  • Moving away from traditional mechanical hard drives toward SSDs.

Solid-State Drives (SSDs)

  • SSDs use non-volatile memory; data persists without power.
  • No moving parts, reducing failure risk and improving access speeds.
  • Faster performance than hard drives, with no rotational delays.
  • Interfaces (e.g., SATA) are crucial for performance.
  • SATA interfaces (e.g., SATA interface revision 3): throughput up to 600MB/s
  • SSDs can exceed these values.
  • New interface (NVMe) for high-speed SSDs.
  • NVMe is designed for SSD throughput and low latency.
  • Interfaces (e.g., mSATA, M.2) are used for smaller components.

M.2 Drives

  • M.2 interface is a smaller form factor than SATA.
  • Single connection to the motherboard; no external power needed.
  • Directly connects to the PCI Express bus for high throughput.
  • 4 Gb/s throughput is possible with a 4 PCIe lane interface.
  • Different key types (B key, M key) for compatibility and interface design in M.2 connectors.
  • Verification of motherboard components' support for NVMe and M.2 key types is needed.
  • Simple installation: the SSD is inserted into the M.2 slot on the motherboard and fastened with a screw.

Flash Memory

  • Flash memory (EEPROM) is another non-volatile storage type.
  • Limited write cycles (read-only after reaching a threshold).
  • Not suitable for large-scale data archiving due to write limitations.
  • Common examples include USB flash drives, SD cards, microSD cards.

Optical Drives

  • Optical drives use lasers to read data on optical media (CD-ROMs, DVDs, Blu-rays).
  • Suitable for archival storage.
  • Optical drives are less common in modern systems.

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Description

This quiz covers the fundamental concepts of hard drives and solid-state drives (SSDs). Learn about how data is stored, the differences in technology, and the speed factors influencing data access. It also highlights the shift from traditional hard drives to modern SSDs.

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