Hard Disk Drive (HDD)/Magnetic Disk/ Primary storage/Winchester drive

Hard Drive Disk (HDD)

A hard disk contains rigid, disk-shaped platters, usually constructed of aluminum or glass. Unlike floppy disk, the platters con not be bent hence so termed as hard disk. In most hard disk drives, the platters con not be removed so they are sometimes called fixed disk drives.

Fig: Disk with tracks and Sectors

Fig: Organization of Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

It is also called magnetic disk, Hard disk.

The basic physical construction of a hard disk consists of spinning disk with heads that move over the disk and store data in tracks and sectors. The heads read and write data in concentric rings called platters, which are divided up into segments called sectors. Hard disk drive usually have multiple disks, called platters, which  are stacked on the top of each other and spin at same speed, each with two sides on which the drive stores data. Most drives used to have at least two or three platters, resulting in four or six sides and some drives have up to 11 or more platters. The identically positioned tracked on each side of every platter together make up a cylinder. A hard disk drive normally has one head per platter side with all the heads mounted on common carrier device called head actuator. The hard drive(HDD) spins the disk at 3600, 5400, 7200 and up 15000 or even more RPM(Rotation Per Minute). 

Nowadays, because of improved technology, the
hard disk comes in a single platter even with huge storage. So a platter has two sides and two heads to read from both sides.

Basic Hard Disk Drive (HDD) Components:

1.      Disk platters

2.     Read/ write Head

3.     Head actuator mechanism

4.     Spindle motor

5.     Logic board

6.     Cable and connecters

7.     Configuration items(Such as jumpers or switches)

The actuator moves the head to the particular track where the data to be resides on the actual sector. The head waits until the sector arrives under it because of the rotation of spindle. The head is just above the platter without touching it. The platters, spindle motor, heads and actuator mechanism are usually contained in sealed chambers called the Hard Disk Assembly (HDA). HDA is usually treated as a single components; it is rarely opened. Other parts external to HAD such as the logic board, cover and other configuration items can be disassembled from the drive. 

Some advantages of Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

• Fast read/write times (direct data access).
• Huge capacities. (Thousands of movies and music files)
• Small and Light with protective casing. (Makes them very portable)
• Designed to plug into almost any computer via USB ports.

Some disadvantages of Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

• Small Size makes them easy to misplace or have stolen.
• More expensive than other forms of storage.
• Protective casing will only protect against minor bumps. If the device is dropped it still because damaged.
• This is always a risk when transmission data externally.

Function of Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

-         Hard disk is used to store the large amount of data like applications, files, movies, images.

-         It provides large storage capacitors and much faster access times than floppy disks.

Characteristics of Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

Like a floppy disk, a hard disk is a type of magnetic media that stored using magnetic patterns, Also as read/ write storage media.

HDD(Hard disk Drive) vs SDD(Solid State Drive

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