Magnetic Disks

Magnetic Disks

1. Internal and External Hard Disks

   • External Drive: Tends to be used for backup of a large amount of files.
   • Data transfer is fast: Can move 40MB a second (10 mp3 songs a second)
   • Internal Drive: Tends to be used to store the operating system (like windows) and application software like office programs.
   • Medium storage: Can hold GB’s of data. Is good to store an operating system on, but not lots of media like mp3s.
   • Internal and External: Can be inside a computer or used outside (like a very large USB pen drive).

2. Magnetic Tape

   • Cheap: Cheapest type of magnetic disk, they are also small and light
   • Data transfer is slow: Usually used in businesses at night to backup information

3. Solid State Drive

   • Data transfer is VERY fast: Can move 600MB a second (150 mp3 songs a second!)
   • Large storage: Can hold TB’s of data. A TB is the equivalent of 1000GB - (250,000 mp3 songs)
   • No moving parts: Less chance of breaking.

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