Hard Drives

The internal hard disk drive is apt for users who prioritize storage capacity over speed. Hard disk drives can differ in size and capacity, with most consumer-grade drives ranging from 30 MB to 450 TB. Hard disk drives (HDDs) measure their speed by their rotational speed known as rotational per minute (RPM). Most hard drives operate at 200 RPM or 15000 RPM. The read/write heads mounted on an actuator arm read and write data from the platters. The read/write heads float on a cushion of air created by the spinning platter and can move to different locations on the disk to access data quickly.

Unlike traditional HDDs, Solid State Drive (SSD) uses solid-state technology to store data. It has spinning disks to read and write data, SSD internal hard drives have no moving parts, which makes them faster, more reliable, and less prone to mechanical failure.

Types Of Hard Disk Drives (HDD)

The hard drive's interface determines the data transfer rate between the hard drive and the computer. Not all interfaces are compatible with all types of systems so it's essential to select the right type of HDD with the right interface for the specific system. The types of HDD interfaces are defined below:

1. SATA (Serial ATA) HDDs: It is generally used for desktop and laptop computers. Provides optimum performance for daily usage and is relatively inexpensive.
2. PATA (Parallel ATA) HDDs: An Old type of HDD that is no longer commonly used. Replaced by SATA HDDs due to their slower data transfer rates.
3. SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) HDDs: High-performance & expensive HDDs used for servers and other high-end computing applications. Transfers data faster than SATA HDDs.
4. SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) HDDs: Compared to SCSI HDDs, it is more reliable and uses a newer interface to transfer data swiftly. An ideal choice for enterprise-level storage systems.
5. SSD (Solid State Drive) HDDs: Uses flash memory to store data, rather than spinning disks. Transfers data rapidly and provide better reliability than traditional HDDs.

Internal Hard Drives Benefits

1. Relatively inexpensive than other types of storage devices, such as SSDS.
2. More reliable for long-term use. Designed to endure constant operation, making it the right fit for desktop computers and servers.
3. Internal hard drives are faster than external hard drives because they connect directly to the motherboard and do not need to go through an external interface.
4. Consumes relatively low power compared to other components of a computer system,  making them energy efficient.
5. Compatible with a broad range of computer systems, including desktops and laptops