Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-10-solid-state-storage [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [IGCSE](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse.md) › [Computer Science](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science.md) › [Cambridge International](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international.md) › Solid State Storage # Solid State Storage Computer Science: Cambridge International GCSE, topic 1.3.10 ## How Solid State Storage Works Solid state storage is an increasingly popular alternative to other storage media. It is often also referred to as flash storage or flash memory. ### Storing a bit ![Storing a bit](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/b43201c6-4785-4a02-8529-99b5ab9f8ea8/Computer-Cache-Memory-CPU-.jpg) - Solid state drives are made of flash memory. - Flash memory stores the value of each bit in a semi-conductor chip. ### Accessing data ![Accessing data](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/e5f703ea-874d-4d0f-8ef6-2cdc726e3e07/Computer-Data-Screen-Analysis-Computing-.jpg) - Data can be accessed randomly. This means that any piece of data can be accessed in a constant amount of time. - This is achievable because there are no moving parts. ### Reliability ![Reliability](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/1e2e869b-5d43-4097-a7a2-c574986f3dfc/SSD-Solid-State-Drive-Computer-Memory-.jpg) - Solid state drives (SSDs) are robust. They have no moving parts, so they are not easily damaged by shocks. - SSDs have a limited number of read/write cycles. After a certain number of re-writes they will stop working. ## Properties of Solid State Media Solid state media has a lot of benefits, but it isn't the best media in all scenarios. ### High speed ![High speed](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/b4a2b18d-e934-422b-85a3-05b314ce3d49/Speed-Light-Blur-Fast-.jpg) - Solid state media tends to have very fast read/write times. - Some solid state media has slower access time. For example, USB sticks. ### High cost ![High cost](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/029ac8c9-d3f2-47f7-909e-4d296c745195/shutterstock_184487681.jpg) - Solid state media has a higher cost-per-GB than magnetic media. - Solid state drives (SSDs) do not last as long as hard disk drives (HDDs), so the cost can often seem restrictive. - Some people choose to pay more for the increase in performance. ### Good capacity ![Good capacity](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/269ff597-d23e-4c4e-baed-e795cf61e4fa/Storage-Computer-Warehouse-Boxes-Cardboard-Truck-.jpg) - SSDs have a good capacity, but not on the scale of optical or magnetic media. ### Good reliability ![Good reliability](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/b8c3581d-1451-4170-98bb-505fa8f6ce99/Reliability-Chains-Solid-Strong-.jpg) - Solid state media is very reliable and robust: - It rarely fails (until read/write limit is hit). - It is not easily damaged by shocks. - Once the read/write cycles are used up, then the drive will fail. ## Test yourself on Solid State Storage - A home computer user's solid state drive (SSD) has failed. They are trying to find out why this has happened, but the only thing that they have done differently recently is use virtual memory. Why has their SSD failed? [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/a91ea2d8-1487-49f1-a3c1-17e86c67462e/section/1a4becce-f8b8-4027-9f46-d5c23e6d28f7/session) - Previous topic: [1.3.9 Code Readers](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-9-code-readers.md) - Next topic: [1.3.11 Magnetic Storage](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-11-magnetic-storage.md) ## Computer Science: Cambridge International GCSE contents ### 1 Computer Systems - 1.1 Data Representation - [1.1.1 Binary Numbers](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-1-1-binary-numbers.md) - [1.1.2 Negative Binary Numbers](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-1-2-negative-binary-numbers.md) - [1.1.3 Hexadecimal](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-1-3-hexadecimal.md) - [1.1.4 Using Hexadecimal](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-1-4-using-hexadecimal.md) - [1.1.5 Converting Binary & Hexadecimal](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-1-5-converting-binary-and-hexadecimal.md) - [1.1.6 Converting Denary & Hexadecimal](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-1-6-converting-denary-and-hexadecimal.md) - [1.1.7 Capacity](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-1-7-capacity.md) - [1.1.8 Calculating Capacity Requirements](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-1-8-calculating-capacity-requirements.md) - [1.1.9 Binary in Computer Systems](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-1-9-binary-in-computer-systems.md) - [1.1.10 Data Compression](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-1-10-data-compression.md) - [1.1.11 Run Length Encoding](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-1-11-run-length-encoding.md) - [1.1.12 File Formats](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-1-12-file-formats.md) - 1.2 Data Transmission - [1.2.1 Packet Switching](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-2-1-packet-switching.md) - [1.2.2 Data Transmission](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-2-2-data-transmission.md) - [1.2.3 Universal Serial Bus (USB)](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-2-3-universal-serial-bus-usb.md) - [1.2.4 Parity Check](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-2-4-parity-check.md) - [1.2.5 Checksum & Echo Checks](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-2-5-checksum-and-echo-checks.md) - [1.2.6 Encryption](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-2-6-encryption.md) - 1.3 Hardware - [1.3.1 Elements of Computer Systems](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-1-elements-of-computer-systems.md) - [1.3.2 Types of Computer System](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-2-types-of-computer-system.md) - [1.3.3 Von Neumann Architecture](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-3-von-neumann-architecture.md) - [1.3.4 The Fetch, Decode, Execute Cycle](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-4-the-fetch-decode-execute-cycle.md) - [1.3.5 Factors Affecting CPU Performance](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-5-factors-affecting-cpu-performance.md) - [1.3.6 Computational Logic](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-6-computational-logic.md) - [1.3.7 Input Devices](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-7-input-devices.md) - [1.3.8 2D & 3D Scanners](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-8-2d-and-3d-scanners.md) - [1.3.9 Code Readers](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-9-code-readers.md) - [1.3.10 Solid State Storage](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-10-solid-state-storage.md) - [1.3.11 Magnetic Storage](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-11-magnetic-storage.md) - [1.3.12 Examples of Magnetic Storage](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-12-examples-of-magnetic-storage.md) - [1.3.13 Optical Storage](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-13-optical-storage.md) - [1.3.14 Examples of Optical Storage](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-14-examples-of-optical-storage.md) - [1.3.15 Types of Optical disk](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-15-types-of-optical-disk.md) - [1.3.16 Storage Requirements](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-16-storage-requirements.md) - [1.3.17 Translation - Compilers](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-17-translation-compilers.md) - [1.3.18 Translation - Interpreters](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-18-translation-interpreters.md) - [1.3.19 Translation - Assemblers](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-19-translation-assemblers.md) - [1.3.20 Acoustic Sensors](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-20-acoustic-sensors.md) - [1.3.21 Flow Sensors](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-21-flow-sensors.md) - [1.3.22 Gas Sensors](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-22-gas-sensors.md) - [1.3.23 Humidity Sensors](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-23-humidity-sensors.md) - [1.3.24 Infrared Sensors](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-24-infrared-sensors.md) - [1.3.25 Level Sensors](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-25-level-sensors.md) - [1.3.26 Light Sensors](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-26-light-sensors.md) - [1.3.27 Magnetic Field Sensors](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-27-magnetic-field-sensors.md) - [1.3.28 Moisture Sensors](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-28-moisture-sensors.md) - [1.3.29 pH Sensors](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-29-ph-sensors.md) - [1.3.30 Pressure Sensors](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-30-pressure-sensors.md) - [1.3.31 Proximity Sensors](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-31-proximity-sensors.md) - [1.3.32 Temperature Sensors](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-32-temperature-sensors.md) - [1.3.33 Network Hardware](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-3-33-network-hardware.md) - 1.4 Software - [1.4.1 Operating Systems](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-4-1-operating-systems.md) - [1.4.2 Interrupts](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-4-2-interrupts.md) - [1.4.3 High-Level Languages](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-4-3-high-level-languages.md) - [1.4.4 Low-Level Languages](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-4-4-low-level-languages.md) - 1.5 The Internet & its Uses - [1.5.1 The Internet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-5-1-the-internet.md) - [1.5.2 Uniform Resource Locators (URLs)](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-5-2-uniform-resource-locators-urls.md) - [1.5.3 DNS](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-5-3-dns.md) - [1.5.4 HTML](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-5-4-html.md) - [1.5.5 Cookies](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-5-5-cookies.md) - [1.5.6 Web Hosting](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-5-6-web-hosting.md) - [1.5.7 Digital Currency](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-5-7-digital-currency.md) - 1.6 Cyber Security - [1.6.1 Forms of Attack](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-6-1-forms-of-attack.md) - [1.6.2 Penetration Testing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-6-2-penetration-testing.md) - [1.6.3 Types of Malware](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-6-3-types-of-malware.md) - [1.6.4 How Malware Spreads](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-6-4-how-malware-spreads.md) - [1.6.5 Protecting Against Malware](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-6-5-protecting-against-malware.md) - [1.6.6 Information Security](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-6-6-information-security.md) - [1.6.7 Structured Query Language (SQL) Injection](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-6-7-structured-query-language-sql-injection.md) - [1.6.8 Firewalls](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-6-8-firewalls.md) - [1.6.9 Authentication: User Access Levels](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-6-9-authentication-user-access-levels.md) - [1.6.10 Authentication: Passwords](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-6-10-authentication-passwords.md) - [1.6.11 Social Engineering](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-6-11-social-engineering.md) - [1.6.12 Phishing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-6-12-phishing.md) - [1.6.13 Denial of Service Attacks](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-6-13-denial-of-service-attacks.md) - 1.7 Automated & Emerging Technologies - [1.7.1 Automated Systems](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-7-1-automated-systems.md) - [1.7.2 Robotics](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-7-2-robotics.md) - [1.7.3 Artificial Intelligence](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/1-7-3-artificial-intelligence.md) ### 2 Algorithms, Programming & Logic - 2.1 Algorithm Design & Problem Solving - [2.1.1 Computational Thinking - Abstraction](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-1-1-computational-thinking-abstraction.md) - [2.1.2 Computational Thinking - Decomposition](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-1-2-computational-thinking-decomposition.md) - [2.1.3 Computational Thinking - Algorithmic Thinking](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-1-3-computational-thinking-algorithmic-thinking.md) - [2.1.4 Pseudocode](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-1-4-pseudocode.md) - [2.1.5 Flow Diagrams](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-1-5-flow-diagrams.md) - [2.1.6 Interpreting, Correcting & Completing Algorithm](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-1-6-interpreting-correcting-and-completing-algorithm.md) - [2.1.7 Correcting Algorithms](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-1-7-correcting-algorithms.md) - [2.1.8 Completing Algorithms](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-1-8-completing-algorithms.md) - [2.1.9 Testing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-1-9-testing.md) - [2.1.10 Types of Testing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-1-10-types-of-testing.md) - [2.1.11 Test Plans](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-1-11-test-plans.md) - [2.1.12 Validation & Sanitation](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-1-12-validation-and-sanitation.md) - [2.1.13 Authentication & Contingencies](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-1-13-authentication-and-contingencies.md) - 2.2 Programming - [2.2.1 Programming Fundamentals - Variables & Constants](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-2-1-programming-fundamentals-variables-and-constants.md) - [2.2.2 Programming Fundamentals - Comments](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-2-2-programming-fundamentals-comments.md) - [2.2.3 Programming Fundamentals - Input & Output](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-2-3-programming-fundamentals-input-and-output.md) - [2.2.4 Data Types](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-2-4-data-types.md) - [2.2.5 Casting](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-2-5-casting.md) - [2.2.6 Controlling Program Flow - Sequence](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-2-6-controlling-program-flow-sequence.md) - [2.2.7 Controlling Program Flow - Selection](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-2-7-controlling-program-flow-selection.md) - [2.2.8 Controlling Program Flow - Iteration](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-2-8-controlling-program-flow-iteration.md) - [2.2.9 Modularity - Subroutines](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-2-9-modularity-subroutines.md) - [2.2.10 Modularity - Scope](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-2-10-modularity-scope.md) - [2.2.11 Arrays](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-2-11-arrays.md) - 2.3 Databases - [2.3.1 Structuring Data - Records](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-3-1-structuring-data-records.md) - [2.3.2 Structuring Data - Databases](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-3-2-structuring-data-databases.md) - [2.3.3 SQL](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-3-3-sql.md) - 2.4 Boolean Logic - [2.4.1 Binary Systems](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-4-1-binary-systems.md) - [2.4.2 Logic Circuits](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-4-2-logic-circuits.md) - [2.4.3 Truth Tables](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-4-3-truth-tables.md) - [2.4.4 Evaluating Expressions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-4-4-evaluating-expressions.md) - [2.4.5 Boolean Operators](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-4-5-boolean-operators.md) - [2.4.6 End of Topic Test - Logic](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/computer-science/cambridge-international/2-4-6-end-of-topic-test-logic.md)