Data Storage

This article lists the various computer information systems/storage types and how they work. This article includes definitions of various types of storage, from hard drives and flash memory, such as USB drives and solid state drives (memory cards), to optical discs and smart cards. We currently use smart cards more than this article suggests.

Hard Drives

Hard drive interface standards

A hard drive with a SATA interface.

A hard drive with a SATA interface.

A hard drive interface (or hard disk interface) refers to "the logical and physical means by which the hard disk connects to the PC". For over a decade, the most common hard drive interface was by a wide margin AT Attachment/ATA, also known as Parallel ATA or PATA. ATA is still used in modern PCs, but it is not as significant as the more modern interface, Serial ATA, or SATA. The more modern SATA uses smaller cables, is more reliable, and possesses greater bandwidth than the now-obsolete PATA. SATA and ATA are not compatible, but there exist adapters to connect ATA interfaces with SATA drives (or SATA interfaces with ATA drives). Another common interface is SCSI (or Small Computer System Interface), which is especially useful for multitasking where multiple hard drives are used, such as in a workplace environment. Essentially, the difference between these three interfaces can be summarized as follows:

  • ATA interfaces are cheaper and are still fairly common, but they are slower and outdated.
  • SATA interfaces are the most useful: the only problem is that you need to buy additional adapters for them to interact with older systems, but they are still relatively cheap, they have high speed, and their wires are small, which frees up more room in the computer and helps prevent overheating.
  • SCSI interfaces are very fast and can handle a wide range of applications and amount of data, but they are quite inexpensive and impractical for home use; SCSI is used more for networks than personal use.