Parts of a Computer

Folder: Mass Storage Hardware

Mass Storage Media

Why are NVMe SSDs Faster than SATA SSDs?

Explanation
You may have heard that NVMe SSDs are faster than traditional SATA-based SSDs. But why is that?
Why SSDs are Faster Than HDDs?

Explanation
Many people say that SSDs are faster than HDDs. But is that true? And why does that happen?
NVMe SSD

Definition
A solid state drive (SSD) that is plugged directly into the PCIe port on the motherboard instead of being connected to the SATA port via cable.
Difference Between SSD and HDD (Solid State Drive and Hard Disk Drive)

Explanation
SSDs are faster but more expensive than HDDs.
Why Thumb Drives Have So Many Names? USB Flash Drive, USB Stick, Pen Drive, Jumpdrive, Disk-on-key, etc.

Explanation
Thumb drive, USB stick, pen drive, USB flash drive, USB flash disk, memory stick, disk on key, jump drive, mobile disk, clip drive, and possibly even others mean the same thing, but why?
Why Drives are Called "Drives" if They Aren't Drives?

Definition
Why solid state drives, hard disk drives, CD drives, floppy disk drives, and USB flash drives (thumb drives, pen drives) are called "drives" if they don't have any drives inside of them?
Drive

Definition
A physical mass storage device; or a virtual filesystem accessible by Windows; or an personal cloud storage service.
Clip Drive

Definition
Another term for a USB flash drive.
Difference Between CD-ROM, CD-R, and CD-RW

Explanation
CD-ROMs were read-only, CD-Rs were write once read many, and CD-RWs were rewritable.
Flash Disk

Definition
Another term for a USB flash drive.
Disk on Key

Definition
Another term for a USB flash drive.
Thumb Drive

Definition
Another name for a USB flash drive.
Memory Stick

Definition
A USB flash drive, a stick of RAM, or a memory card product by Sony.
USB Stick

Definition
Another term for USB flash drive.
USB Flash Disk

Definition
Another term for USB flash drive.
Hard Drive

Definition
Another term for hard disk drive (HDD).
Why is the "Disk" Called "Disk" if it isn't a Disk?

Explanation
How do I "save to disk" if all I have is an SSD and an USB flash drive?
Mobile Disk

Definition
A portable hard disk, or non-disk-based mass storage devices like portable SSDs and USB flash drives.
Disk

Definition
Not an actual disk, but typically where files are saved.
Jumpdrive

Definition
An old term for USB flash drives.