Storage Types

Vocabulary flashcards covering HDD, SSD, and M.2 storage drive specifications, power rails, connectors, and spindle speeds.

HDD (Hard Disk Drive)

A thick storage device containing magnetic platters and an actuator arm; it features high capacity, is fragile (dropping it destroys data), and represents the oldest drive technology mentioned.

SSD (Solid State Drive)

A thin, silent, shock-resistant drive (commonly $2.5''$ SATA) that reads data without an actuator arm and requires $+5\text{V}$ power.

M.2

A very compact, modern stick form-factor drive featuring gaps in copper that connects directly via PCIe or SATA.

RPM (Revolutions Per Minute)

The unit of measurement used to specify spindle rotational speed in hard disk drives.

7200 RPM

The standard spindle speed rating for desktop hard disk drives.

10k RPM

The spindle speed specification designated for high performance hard disk drives.

15k RPM

The spindle speed specification designated for enterprise hard disk drives.

SATA DATA Connector

A 7-pin keyed L-shaped connector used to transfer data between the drive and the motherboard.

SATA POWER Connector

A 15-pin keyed L-shaped connector located at the back of the drive used to provide electrical power.

+12V Rail

The voltage rail dedicated to powering the HDD spindle motor to allow faster spinning.

+5V Rail

The voltage rail dedicated to powering the HDD logic board.

Laptop Drive Form Factors

The two common form factors used for laptop drives: $2.5''$ and M.2.