Computer storage devices and their operating mechanisms. Data modeling belongs in Databases.
Test your knowledge with these top questions!
In a hard disk drive, which spinning parts store data magnetically?
The platters carry a thin magnetic coating that the drive head magnetizes to record files.
What kind of memory do solid-state drives use to store files?
Flash memory traps electric charges in tiny cells, so an SSD remembers files with no power and no spinning disk.
Why do gamers and editors use a RAID 0 drive setup?
RAID 0 splits files across drives so they work together, but one failed drive loses the whole array.
Why do solid-state drives keep saved files when the power goes off?
Nonvolatile means saved charges stay put without power, unlike computer RAM, which forgets everything when switched off.
What floats just above the disks inside a working hard disk drive?
The head rides on a cushion of air thinner than a fingerprint smudge, which is why drops can ruin a drive.
Which standard lets modern solid-state drives reach their fastest speeds?
NVMe uses parallel command queues designed for SSDs; PCIe is the connection that carries their data in most PCs.
What does a RAID 1 array do with computer data?
RAID 1 writes every file to both drives at once, so work continues if one drive dies.
Why do people defragment a hard disk drive?
Gathering split-up file fragments into neighboring spots shortens the head travel needed to open files.
Which color laser does a Blu-ray player use to read discs?
Blue light has a shorter wavelength than the red laser in DVD players, so it reads much smaller pits.
What does a 7200-RPM rating describe on a hard disk drive?
Faster spinning usually shortens waiting time because the head reaches stored data sooner.