What is Hard Disk Full Detail

What is Hard Disk Definition, Functions and Types

In this article you will know what is Hard Disk and what are its types? Hard Disk is also often called Disk Drive or “Hard Disk Drive (HDD)”. Just as a library needs a cupboard to handle books, the computer also needs a similar place in which it can store digital data.

Computers use two types of storage devices to store and process digital content (documents, images, videos, software, operating systems, programs). In which Hard Disk is a secondary memory device. It stores the data permanently.

Whereas the primary memory device (RAM) works to process the programs of the computer. It is also called temporary memory. Hard Disk is seen as an important component of the computer because without it no computer will work. In this post we will tell you what is hard disk in computer? In which you will get to know a lot about Hard Disk. So let’s first know, what is a hard disk called, then we will talk about other aspects of it.

Topics

• What is Hard Disk
• How many types are there of Hard Disk?
• hard disk parts
• Functions of Hard Disk
• What is SSD? (SSD)
• Key Differences between HHD and SSD (SSD vs HDD)
• Conclusion

What is Hard Disk

Hard Disk, also called Hard Disk Drive (HDD), is a non-volatile memory hardware device. The job of a hard disk is to permanently store and retrieve computer data. They are called non-volatile devices, which can store any type of data in the computer for a long time.

That is, the computer keeps the data safe even after power off. Hard disk is also called secondary storage device. It is present inside a computer case and is connected to the computer motherboard using data cables (PATA, SCSI, SATA).

Hard disk uses magnetic storage to store and complete digital information. That is why it is also called Electro-mechanical data storage device. To store data in a hard disk, one or more circular rotating disk (platter) is installed.

Each platter has a very thin strip, which is made using magnetic material. Many tracks and sectors are present in these platters and they rotate through the spindle. When the platter starts rotating, a Read/Write arm mounted in the hard disk moves from right to left above it.

Its job is to read and write data from the platter. The higher the speed with which the spindle rotates the platter, the faster the data will be stored in the hard disk. Its speed is measured in RPM (Revolution Per Minute). It means, how many revolutions did the platter make in one minute. Most of the Hard Disk ranges from 5400 RPM to 7200 RPM.

Before the use of hard disk, floppy disk was used to store information in the computer. But it could store data only up to 3.14MB. Rather, on the contrary, Hard Disk has the capacity to store many terabytes of data. The first hard disk was invented by IBM in 1956 and RAMAC (Random Access Method of Accounting and Control) was the first hard disk.

How many types are there of Hard Disk

At present there are four types of Hard Disk-:

1. PATA (Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment) – This is the oldest type of hard disk. It was first used in 1986. PATA Hard Disk uses the ATA interface standard to connect to the computer. It was earlier referred to as Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE). It is a medium speed hard disk, its data transfer rate is up to 133MB/s. This drive stores data using magnetism.
2. SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) – You will get this type of hard disk in most of today’s computers and laptops. The data transfer rate of a SATA hard disk is higher than that of a PATA drive. Its speed can range from 150MB/s to 600MB/s. SATA cables are very thin and flexible, which is much better than PATA cables. It is better than the old hard disk drive in many ways.
3. SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) – This type of hard disk uses a small computer system interface to connect to the computer. It is quite parallel to the IDE hard drive. The new version (16-bit ultra-640) of SCSI Hard Disk has a data transfer speed of up to 640 MBps and can connect to 16 devices with a cable length of 12 meters.
4. SSD (Solid State Drives) – It comes in the latest drives today. It is much better and faster than all other hard disk devices. SSD uses flash memory technology to store data. Its data access speed is very fast. Its price is much higher than that of an HDD drive.

We have come to know how many types of hard disk are there. Now let’s understand in a little detail about its structure. Below we will tell you about the important parts of the hard disk through which a hard disk works.

Hard disk parts

Some of the major components of Hard Disk and their functions are shown below.

MAGNETIC PLATTERS is an important part of it, in which digital information is stored magnetically. In this data is saved in binary form (0 to 1).
The READ/WRITE HEAD is a small magnet mounted on the front of the read right arm. It moves from right to left on the top of the platter and serves to record and store information.
Read-write arm rotates with the help of ACTUATOR.
READ-WRITE ARM is the back of the read write head, both of which are interconnected.
SPINDLE is a type of motor, it is present in the middle of the platter. With its help, the platters move around.
Controls the effect of data from the CIRCUIT BOARD platter.
CONNECTOR read-write from the circuit board and transmits the data to the platter.
Logic board is a type of chip, which controls all the information of input or output from HDD.
HSA read right arm has a parking area.

Apart from this, there are many other parts of Hard Disk too. If you want complete information about them, then click here.

Function of Hard Disk

The main function of a hard disk is to store computer data forever. That’s why it is also called Permanent Storage. This data can be of many types, such as your personal files, documents, software, operating system etc. How much data can be stored in these hard disks, it depends on the storage capacity of the hard disk. Today you will get such hard disk whose capacity to store data ranges from gigabytes to terabytes.

What is SSD

The full form of SSD is Solid State Drive. You can also call it a replacement for HDD (Hard Disk Drive). In this flash memory is used to store the data. SSD is stronger than an electromechanical drive. Therefore it is also called solid-state device. The access time of this type of drive is very high. It does not make a sound like other hard disks and runs without interruption.

It is much smaller in size as compared to hard disk drives, due to which it occupies less space inside the CPU. There are two major components of an SSD, which make it up. Which includes flash controller and NAND flash memory chips. SSD is used in most of today’s computers and laptops. It is a better storage device than HDD.

Key Differences between HHD and SSD (SSD vs HDD)

Let’s talk about HDD first. It is made of magnetic element and has mechanical parts inside it. Its storage capacity is very high, due to which you can store 1TB or more data in your computer. If you buy an HDD, then you will get it at very cheap prices. The data access speed of HHD is very slow. That is, it takes a long time for your program and computer to start.

SSD is much faster than this and this is also a big achievement of it. It uses Integrated Circuit (IC, Chips) to store the data. It is much smaller in size than HDD. It comes with different storage capacity. But its cost is very high which is difficult for common man to bear. But if you buy an SSD with less storage, then your computer becomes very fast.

Conclusion

In this post you have learned what is Hard Disk and what are its types? Hopefully, by now you must have known about hard disk very well. If you use a computer, then we would advise that you never open the hard disk in it, otherwise it may get damaged. We have explained almost all the aspects of hard disk in this post, but still if you have any question, then please do comment below. If you want, you can share this post with your friends. Thank you.

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• What is Operating System Its functions

• What is Secondary Memory

• What is Bit and Byte in computer