OCR · GCSE · Computer Science
Course version: J277 · Version from Sept 2022
The advantages and disadvantages of different storage devices and storage…
Full specification wording
Secondary storage: The advantages and disadvantages of different storage devices and storage media relating to these characteristics Capacity Speed Portability Durability Reliability Cost
Every storage device balances six characteristics: capacity, speed, portability, durability, reliability and cost.
Checked against the OCR J277 specification on .
- Point 4 of 4
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Every storage device balances six characteristics: capacity, speed, portability, durability, reliability and cost. Magnetic hard disk drives offer high capacity at low cost per gigabyte, but contain moving parts, so they are slower, less durable when moved and can fail mechanically. Solid-state drives have no moving parts, giving fast access, good durability and quiet operation, but cost more per gigabyte and have limited write cycles. Optical discs are cheap and portable but slow and low capacity. USB flash drives and SD cards are highly portable and durable, though small and easy to lose. Magnetic tape gives very high capacity at low cost for archiving but is slow with sequential access. To compare, state the advantage, then the matching disadvantage, and relate both to the characteristic named.
What earns the marks
- States an advantage of a named device linked to a named characteristic, for example SSD speed or HDD cost per gigabyte.
- States a matching disadvantage of the same device, for example SSD cost or HDD durability when moved.
- Compares two devices directly on the same characteristic, such as SSD versus HDD on speed or durability.
- Explains why a characteristic matters in context, for example portability for a device carried daily.
- Uses correct units and terms, for example GB, TB, MB/s, magnetic, optical and solid-state.
- Recognises that no device is best on every characteristic, so selection involves trade-offs.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Giving only advantages: correct by pairing each advantage with a disadvantage of the same device.
Treating 'durable' and 'reliable' as identical.
Put it right by explaining durability as resistance to damage and reliability as consistent correct operation.
Confusing capacity with speed.
Put it right by using GB or TB for capacity and MB/s for transfer speed.
Exam tips
- Structure comparison answers device by device, naming the characteristic before the judgement.
- Use comparative language such as 'faster than', 'cheaper per gigabyte than' and 'more portable than'.
- Check that every advantage has a matching disadvantage so the comparison is balanced.
Try the lesson
The start of the Secondary storage: The advantages and disadvantages of different storage devices and storage media relating to these characteristics Capacity Speed Portability Durability Reliability Cost lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which characteristic of a storage device describes how much data it can hold?
Listen
Every storage device balances six characteristics: capacity, speed, portability, durability, reliability and cost. Magnetic hard disk drives offer high capacity at low cost per gigabyte, but contain moving parts, so they are slower, less durable when moved and can fail mechanically. Solid-state drives have no moving parts, giving fast access, good durability and quiet operation, but cost more per gigabyte and have limited write cycles. Optical discs are cheap and portable but slow and low capacity. USB flash drives and SD cards are highly portable and durable, though small and easy to lose. Magnetic tape gives very high capacity at low cost for archiving but is slow with sequential access. To compare, state the advantage, then the matching disadvantage, and relate both to the characteristic named. A strong answer earns marks for these points. States an advantage of a named device linked to a named characteristic, for example SSD speed or HDD cost per gigabyte. States a matching disadvantage of the same device, for example SSD cost or HDD durability when moved. Compares two devices directly on the same characteristic, such as SSD versus HDD on speed or durability. Explains why a characteristic matters in context, for example portability for a device carried daily. A common slip: Treating 'durable' and 'reliable' as identical. Instead, explaining durability as resistance to damage and reliability as consistent correct operation. Exam tip: Structure comparison answers device by device, naming the characteristic before the judgement.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Storage characteristics
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Comparative evaluation
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Cost against performance
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Suitability for purpose
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Storage characteristics
- The features of capacity, speed, portability, durability, reliability and cost that every storage device balances.
- Comparative evaluation
- Stating the advantage, then the matching disadvantage, and relating both to the characteristic named.
- Cost against performance
- A trade-off where a device such as a solid-state drive costs more per gigabyte but gives fast access.
- Suitability for purpose
- Explaining why a characteristic matters in context, for example portability for a device carried daily.
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