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AQA GCSE · Question 09.2 · Computer systems
Many new computers use solid-state storage for secondary storage rather than magnetic storage. Explain why solid-state storage is not fitted to every new computer.
Many new computers use solid-state storage for secondary storage rather than magnetic storage. Explain why solid-state storage is not fitted to every new computer.
How to approach this question
1. Identify the main drawback of solid-state storage (SSD) compared to magnetic storage (HDD).
2. Think about the key factors manufacturers consider when building computers for different markets (e.g., budget vs. high-end).
3. The primary difference is often cost versus performance. Explain how this trade-off leads to some computers still using the older technology.
Full Answer
The main reason is cost. Solid-state drives (SSDs) have a higher cost per gigabyte compared to traditional magnetic hard disk drives (HDDs). While prices are falling, for budget computers or for systems requiring very large amounts of storage (e.g., several terabytes), HDDs are still a more cost-effective option for manufacturers and consumers.
While solid-state drives (SSDs) offer significant performance advantages over magnetic hard disk drives (HDDs) — such as faster read/write speeds, lower power consumption, and greater durability — they are not used in every new computer primarily due to **cost**.
SSDs have a higher cost per gigabyte (GB) of storage than HDDs. For manufacturers producing budget or entry-level computers, using a traditional HDD allows them to keep the final retail price of the machine lower. Alternatively, for the same cost, they can offer a much larger storage capacity with an HDD than they could with an SSD, which can be a key selling point for users who need to store large files like videos and games.
Common mistakes
✗ Stating that SSDs have lower capacity. While often true for a given price point, it's the cost that is the root cause.
✗ Claiming SSDs are less reliable. Modern SSDs have a long lifespan, although they have a finite number of writes, this is not typically a concern for average users.
✗ Confusing solid-state storage with other types of memory like RAM.
Practice the full AQA GCSE Computer Science Paper 2
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