A cloud storage provider installs new servers - Edexcel - GCSE Computer Science - Question 6 - 2021 - Paper 1

Starting a computer involves both hardware and software components.

First, when power is supplied, the hardware component known as the Power Supply Unit (PSU) activates. This sends power to the motherboard, which then powers up the Central Processing Unit (CPU). The CPU begins executing firmware contained in the Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) or Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI).

The BIOS/UEFI performs a series of checks known as the Power-On Self-Test (POST) to verify that the essential hardware components are functioning correctly.

Once POST is complete, the BIOS/UEFI locates and loads the operating system from a designated storage device (e.g., SSD or HDD), allowing the system to transition from hardware operations to software management.

When comparing storage media options for cloud storage providers, HDDs (Hard Disk Drives) and SSDs (Solid State Drives) are two primary technologies.

Option Comparison

1. Cost & Capacity:

   • HDD: Generally offers a higher capacity at a lower cost compared to SSDs, making them suitable for large-scale data storage.
   • SSD: Typically more expensive with lower capacity, but costs have been decreasing.

2. Speed:

   • HDD: Slower access speeds due to mechanical parts and latency in data retrieval, impacting performance, particularly for high-traffic applications.
   • SSD: Provides significantly higher access speeds, enabling quicker data retrieval and improved performance for applications requiring fast I/O operations.

3. Durability & Reliability:

   • HDD: More prone to failure due to moving parts; less durable than SSDs.
   • SSD: No moving parts means they are more resilient and have longer lifespans under heavy usage.

In conclusion, while HDDs are favorable due to their cost-effectiveness for high-capacity needs, SSDs offer performance and reliability advantages that might justify their higher cost in applications where speed is critical.