← IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

Examples of solid-state storage: SSD, SD card and USB drive

Flash-based solid-state devices: an SSD is the main storage in a laptop, an SD card suits cameras and phones, and a USB drive is a portable stick for carrying files.

Part of: IGCSE Computer Science 0478 — 3.3 Data Storage — Module 17

Understanding Examples of solid-state storage: SSD, SD card and USB drive in IGCSE Computer Science Paper 1

What it does: A USB drive (memory stick) is solid-state storage made to be carried around and plugged into different computers. An internal SSD acts as the main secondary storage of the computer and is fast because it has no moving parts. SD cards are small, removable flash cards used in cameras and many phones. An SSD is usually fixed inside a computer. The statement confuses flash storage with magnetic storage; USB drives, SSDs and SD cards are all flash-based.

Common mistakes: An SD card is used in cameras and phones, not as a laptop's main storage. The laptop message belongs to the SSD, so the output should be "Used in a camera". A USB drive is a portable stick for carrying files, so portable should be TRUE, not FALSE.

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Learning
Duo
Which device is most likely to be the main internal storage inside a modern laptop?
SSDUSB drive
Matches
A USB drive stores data on spinning magnetic platters
↓
USB drives are solid-state flash devices with no moving parts, so they do not use spinning magnetic platters (that is an HDD).
Applying
Meanings
Term
SSD, SD card, USB drive
Meaning
Flash-based solid-state devices: an SSD is the main storage in a laptop, an SD card suits cameras and phones, and a USB drive is a portable stick for carrying files.
Practice
OUTPUT "SSD: main storage in a laptop"
Testing
Gaps
Main storage inside a laptop:
Check Answer
Spots
2IF device = "SD card" THEN
3 OUTPUT "Used in a laptop"

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Quick Questions

1. Which device is most likely to be the main internal storage inside a modern laptop?
A. SSD ✓
B. USB drive
An SSD is built into the laptop and holds the operating system, apps and files. A USB drive is a removable stick.
2. A digital camera needs a small removable card to store photos. Which device fits best?
A. SSD
B. SD card ✓
SD cards are small, removable flash cards used in cameras and many phones. An SSD is usually fixed inside a computer.
3. True or false: SSDs, SD cards and USB drives all use flash memory with no moving parts.
A. True ✓
B. False
All three are solid-state devices. They store data in flash memory chips and have no spinning disks or moving read/write heads.
4. A student wants to carry homework between school and home and plug it into different computers. Which is the best choice?
A. SD card inside a camera
B. USB drive ✓
A USB drive is a portable stick that plugs straight into a USB port, so it is ideal for carrying files between computers.
5. Which statement about an SSD in a computer is correct?
A. It is the main storage that holds the operating system and programs ✓
B. It is a thin stick you carry on a keyring
The keyring stick describes a USB drive. An SSD is the main storage inside a laptop or desktop computer.

Match the Pairs

SSD → A flash-based solid-state drive that is the main internal storage in a laptop or desktop computer, with no moving parts
SD card → A small flash memory card that is slotted into a camera or phone to store photos, videos and apps
A portable flash device that plugs into a USB port so you can carry files between computers → USB drive
Flash storage fitted inside a laptop as its main storage, giving fast start-up and file access → SSD in a laptop
A USB drive stores data on spinning magnetic platters → USB drives are solid-state flash devices with no moving parts, so they do not use spinning magnetic platters (that is an HDD).
An SD card is the main storage fixed inside a desktop computer → An SD card is a small removable flash card used in cameras and phones, while the main internal storage of a computer is an SSD or HDD.

Key Term

SSD, SD card, USB drive
Flash-based solid-state devices: an SSD is the main storage in a laptop, an SD card suits cameras and phones, and a USB drive is a portable stick for carrying files.

Fill in the Blanks

1. Main storage inside a laptop: SSD
Hint: Type the abbreviation for the flash-based drive that acts as main storage inside a laptop.
2. Camera or phone storage: SD card
Hint: Type the name of the small flash card that is slotted into cameras and phones.
3. Portable stick for carrying files: USB drive
Hint: Type the device name for the portable stick that plugs into a port.
4. SSD, SD card, USB drive all use flash memory
Hint: Type the kind of memory that all three of these solid-state devices use.
5. A USB drive is portable so you can carry it
Hint: Type the word describing a device that is small and easy to carry around.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A device ← "SD card"
B IF device = "SD card" THEN
C OUTPUT "Used in a laptop"
D ENDIF
Line C — An SD card is used in cameras and phones, not as a laptop's main storage. The laptop message belongs to the SSD, so the output should be "Used in a camera".
Question 2
A device ← "USB drive"
B portable ← FALSE
C OUTPUT "Carry files around"
Line B — A USB drive is a portable stick for carrying files, so portable should be TRUE, not FALSE.
Question 3
A device ← "CD drive"
B location ← "laptop"
C OUTPUT device, location
Line A — A CD drive is optical storage. The flash-based device used as main storage in a laptop is the SSD, so line 1 should be device ← "SSD".
Question 4
A storage ← "SSD card"
B host ← "camera"
C OUTPUT storage, host
Line A — There is no such thing as an 'SSD card'. The device used in cameras and phones is the SD (Secure Digital) card, so it should be "SD card".
Question 5
A IF type = "SSD" THEN
B OUTPUT "Laptop storage"
C ELSEIF type = "SD card" THEN
D OUTPUT "Portable stick"
E ENDIF
Line D — This branch runs for an SD card, which is used in cameras and phones. A portable stick describes a USB drive, so the output should be "Camera storage".

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