The Four Major Components of a Hard Drive

Hard drives are manufactured in "clean rooms" to avoid the introduction of foreign particles.

A hard drive is an important part of your computer's storage system. Four principal components are found within a hard drive.

Drive Heads

Drive heads are small precision instruments that are responsible for the reading and writing of data within the hard drive. An actuator arm holds the drive head above the platter. As the platter spins, the drive head makes a series of rapid and precise movements that allow for the storage and retrieval of information.

Platter

The platter is the primary storage unit for all of the memory in your disk drive. These instruments are vulnerable to the smallest of disruptions, so they are highly protected during production and in the casing of the drive. The smallest foreign particle or object could prevent the drive from operating.

Circuitry

The circuit board is located on the back of the drive. It translates the instructions sent to the drive by the computer and disseminates those commands to the different components.

Spindle Arm

The spindle, as with a record player, allows the platter to spin. The speed at which the platter rotates is proportionate to the speed of the drive; the faster the drive operates, the quicker the reading and writing is done. High-speed drives have average rates of 4,800 to 7,200 spins per minute.

References

• Comuter Hardware Components Guide: Computer Hard Drive and Its Components