Components of a Computer Hard Drive
Computer hard drives are one of the miracles of modern technology. They handle the task of writing literally billions of bits of information every single day, usually without a mistake. And when they go bad and can't be fixed, we simply salvage what information we can from them before destroying them. All hard drives contain certain basic parts which they use to perform their daily miracle of tracking all the digital information we want to keep.
Other People Are Reading
-
The Disk Assembly
-
At the heart of a hard drive is the disk assembly itself. This is made up of several parts, the most basic of which are the platters. They resemble CDs and actually store the information. Usually several platters are stacked to provide a large storage surface. Small pads called heads are located on an arm to access the platters. There's one head for each side of each platter. These heads either read data already on the platters or write new data as they're instructed by the computer. The heads rest on the platters when they're not working, and they float just above the surface of the platters during access operations. The other primary part of the disk assembly is the voice coil actuator. This is the part that actually sends data to the heads, and it transmits data by vibrating, much like a voice coil in a telephone receiver.
Spindle Motor
-
The spindle motor spins the platters at a set rate, generally between 3,600 rpm and 7,200 rpm. This motor is speed-regulated to ensure that data can be read accurately. It also has a ground strap, which helps eliminate the static electricity created by the spinning platters.
-
Logic Board
-
The logic board is the brain of the operation, a printed circuit board covered with special chips that control and coordinate all of the other components. It makes sure that data is transmitted onto and off of the platters swiftly and accurately, that the heads are properly parked when they aren't reading or writing to the platters, and that data transfers between the disk drive and the rest of the computer system proceed smoothly.
Connectors
-
Finally, every hard drive needs connectors to interface with the rest of the computer. These connectors not only transmit data back and forth between the drive and the computer's display components --- and ultimately to you --- but they do so in a manner that allows you to easily exchange drives that are defective or simply too small to hold all your data. The most common connector is called an Advanced Technology Attachment connector; some of the more expensive systems use faster Small Computer System Interface connectors.
-
References
- Photo Credit Medioimages/Photodisc/Photodisc/Getty Images
