A Level Computer Science OCR Practice Exam

How can Solid State Storage be described compared to other storage types?

1. It is the least expensive option

2. It provides slower access speeds

3. It has lower storage capacity

4. It uses mechanical components to store data

The correct answer is: It has lower storage capacity

Solid State Storage can be characterized by its lack of mechanical components, making it fundamentally different from traditional storage types, such as hard disk drives (HDDs), which do include moving parts. Solid State Drives (SSDs) utilize flash memory to store data, enabling efficient access speeds and durability due to the absence of mechanical wear and tear. When comparing storage types, SSDs generally have higher access speeds, greater reliability, and can be more expensive than HDDs per gigabyte. Therefore, stating that Solid State Storage has lower storage capacity is not an accurate representation, as many modern SSDs now offer significant storage sizes, rivaling traditional storage methods. The technology continues to advance, and SSDs are gaining in both capacity and affordability.