Storage

  • Expansion & Adapters Cards

    • Increase the functionality of a computer by adding controllers for specific devices or by replacing malfunctioning parts on the motherboard

      • Ex: advanced graphically processing units (graphics card) or GPUs to a wireless network interface card (NIC), which is smaller than the graphics card.

      • All motherboards have on-board, built in video cards (integrated graphics) which are weaker compared to stand alones

    • Network interface card (NIC) provided older desktops internet access

      • Newer computers have integrated chips built into the motherboard

      • Wireless NICs (WNIC) give computers the ability to connect to the internet wirelessly aka Wi-Fi card.

      • All connect to Spot on motherboard called Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIE)

        • PCIE x16 faster than PCIE x1

  • Storage Drives

    • Reads or writes information to magnetic storage media: hard disk drive (HDD) and solid state drive (SSDs).

      • The hard drive disk is a magnetic storage device that stores data on a disk known as a platter

        • Is measured in revolutions per minute (RPM): 5,400 rpm rpm, 7,200 rpm)

        • Tend to be cheaper and more prone to damage

        • Has higher data storage than SSD

      • Solid state drives (SSDs) do not have moving parts, resulting in faster access to data (bits per second (bps)), higher reliability, and reduced power usage

        • More expensive

        • Limited amount of times you can save to them

        • Generates significantly less heat

        • Is measured in bits per second (bps)

      • What are connectors for internal storage devices?

        • SATA

        • SSDs

    • Optical Drives / Disk Drives: CDs, DVD’s, and Blu-Rays

      • Flash drives are also known as thumb drives- portable ways to store and transfer data via USB

      • Count as an input AND output device

      • Blue-ray disks (BD-ROM) store the most data

    • Unit of Measuring Storage

      • There are 1024 byte in a kilobyte (and so forth) and 8 bits per byte

      • After each jump, the following unit has 1000 more

      • Bit (b): 0 or 1

      • Bytes (B): 8 bites

      • Kilobytes (KB): 1000^1 bytes (binary) or 24 + 1000^1

      • Megabytes (MB): 1000² bytes or 24 + 1000²

      • Gigabytes (GB): 1000³ bytes or 24 + 1000³

      • Terabytes (TB): 1000^4 bytes or 24 + 1000^4

      • Petabytes (PB): 1000^5 bytes or 24 + 1000^5

      • Exabyte: 1000 ^6 bytes or 24 + 1000^6

      • Acronym: Burger King Makes Great Toast

  • Network Storage

    • Local Network Storage: storage mediums that are accessible within your local area network (LAN)

      • LAN: networks of computers spanning a singular building

      • Network Attached Storage (NAS): A preconfigured device that stores and shares data for multiple computers which can be accessed remotely with minimal setup

        • Ideal for household usage

      • File Server: A computer with dedicated hardware intended to share files. Files servers usually are more powerful than a NAS

        • Ideal for businesses

      • Cloud Storage Service enables access to files throughout a collection of offsite / off-prem servers

        • Examples: Google Suite, One Drive, iCloud, Dropbox