3.3 - Storage Devices Flashcards
What type of storage device retains data even when the system is powered off?
A hard drive
What are hard drives referred to as and why?
Non-volatile, because they retain information even when powered off
What is ‘random access’ in the context of hard drives?
Ability to access any data without needing to forward or rewind
What components inside a hard drive create limitations on data retrieval and storage?
Mechanical parts like spinning platters and actuator arms
What eventually happens to hard drives due to their moving parts?
They will eventually fail
What part of the hard drive is responsible for locating, retrieving, and writing data?
A small head at the end of an actuator arm
How fast does a low-end hard drive typically spin?
5,400 rotations per minute
What is the rotational latency of a hard drive spinning at 5,400 RPM?
About 5.5 milliseconds
How does the rotational latency change with a 15,000 RPM hard drive?
It lowers to about 2 milliseconds
Why are SSDs faster than traditional hard drives?
They have no moving parts, allowing direct access to data
What is an important part of SSD performance?
The interface used to access the SSD
What interface is commonly used for both hard drives and SSDs?
SATA interface
What is the mini version of the SATA interface called?
mSATA
What interface replaced mSATA and is now more common?
M.2 interface
What protocol does SATA use and what are its limitations?
AHCI protocol, which limits throughput for SSDs
What is NVMe and why is it used?
Non-volatile Memory Express, used to maximize throughput for SSDs
How do you install an M.2 drive?
Find the M.2 slot on the motherboard, slide the SSD in, and fasten it with a screw
What is flash memory and why is it used?
EEPROM, a non-volatile storage type used for portable devices
What is a limitation of flash memory?
It has a limited number of write cycles
Why is flash memory not ideal for archival storage?
It is small and can be easily lost or damaged
What is an optical drive and how does it store data?
A storage device that uses lasers to read pits or colors on optical discs
