Different Types of PC Hard Drive
Technology is developing and progressing more and more with each year that passes. As a result, there are now a wide range of different hardware types that can be used depending on the computer in question. Here at Internet Marketing Questions, we want to help our readers understand the basics of PC systems which is why we have decided to use this article to go over the different characteristics that define a hard drive.
Enterprise Class Hard Drives and Desktop Hard Drives
Generally, there are actually only two different types of hard drives that can be found: enterprise class hard drives, which are incredibly reliable, and desktop hard drives, which are optimised for 8 hours use per day. Although the former are equipped to handle 100% data usage, they are very expensive and even the slightest hint of data corruption will result in a lot of lost data. On the other hand, desktop hard drives are much cheaper and are able to modify your files in order to prevent such a drastic loss of data.
Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment (PATA)
A PATA hard drive is also referred to as Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) or Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics (EIDE) drives. Although the label it has refers directly to the type of interface that connects the drive to the CPU board, the term IDE generally refers to both IDE and EIDE disks. These days, PATA hard drives are being swapped out for something known as Serial ATA hard drives.
Serial ATA Hard Drives (SATA)
Serial ATA disks use a different connector than the PATA alternative, as well as a different power adapter than IDE disks. With this said, the most obvious difference between a PATA disk and a SATA disk is the width as the SATA is much thinner.
Small Computer System Interface (SCSI)
Although they hold some similarities to IDE hard drives, a SCSI disk spins between 10,000 to 15,000 rpm whereas SATA disk tend to only reach around 7,000 rpm. With this said, some SATA disks are now being manufactured with a higher speed of 10,000 rpm.
Solid State Drives (SSD)
Unlike the other disks, an SSD hard drive does not have any moving components involved. After all, a conventional disk has a spinning magnet that allows it to store data, however an SSD uses something known as semiconductors to do this. In fact, this makes them much faster and more reliable but also incredibly expensive.