Hard Drive
The hard drive or hard disk drive (HDD) is the component in a computer which allows for the storage of data. Since their first commercial appearance in 1956, hard drives have become faster, larger (capacity-wise) and more technologically advanced. Today, almost every personal computer makes use of the hard drive for data storage. In this article, you will learn about the different hard drive types and some tips for purchasing your hard drive.
There are many different hard drives to choose from. If you are new to the hard drive market, you can easily be confused by all the numbers and terms used to describe a hard drive. First of all, when buying your hard drive it is important to determine your needs. The two main factors to consider when deciding what you need from your hard drive include speed and storage capacity. For graphical production work such as video editing, and computer-aided design, speed may be more useful than capacity. With regards to speed, the hard drive usually comes in speeds of 5,400rpm, 7,200rpm, 10,000rpm, and 15,000rpm. If you own a personal computer and are looking to expand your multimedia collection, you may opt for capacity. Normal hard drive capacities range from 20 gigabytes up to 1 terabyte.
Other factors to consider when buying a hard drive include form factor and connectivity features. The most commonly used hard drive sizes are 2.5 inch, 3.5 inch, and 5.25 inch drives. The 5.25 inch and 3.5 inch hard drives are commonly used in desktop computers, while the 2.5 inch drive is usually used for laptop and notebook computers. The hard drive may also include special features which allow high speed connections, network connections or interconnectivity between drives.
