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Objective:

• To recognize and differentiate between various types of storage devices, including

traditional Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) and modern Solid-State Drives (SSDs), based on
form factor, interface, and internal architecture.
• To gain hands-on experience in the installation and uninstallation of HDDs and SSDs
while maintaining industry-standard safety protocols such as anti-static precautions.
• To configure storage devices in BIOS/UEFI to ensure proper detection, boot order setup,
and optimal performance settings such as enabling AHCI or NVMe support.
• To utilize hardware monitoring and diagnostic tools, such as CrystalDiskInfo and CPU-Z,
to analyze drive health, performance parameters (read/write speed, temperature,
S.M.A.R.T. data), and verify proper installation.
• To troubleshoot common storage device issues, including BIOS non-detection, faulty
data/power connections, and misconfigured boot sequences, which are critical skills for
IT professionals and hardware technicians.
• To compare real-world performance differences between HDD and SSD technologies and
understand their implications on overall system responsiveness, load times, and user
experience.

Introduction:

Storage devices form the backbone of data management and system performance in computing.
Among these, Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) and Solid-State Drives (SSDs) are the most commonly
used types of secondary storage in personal computers, laptops, servers, and enterprise systems.
Though both serve the same purpose—permanent data storage—they differ significantly in
technology, performance, cost, durability, and use cases.

HDDs are based on older mechanical technology where data is stored magnetically on spinning
disks (platters) and accessed using movable read/write heads. They are generally more affordable
and available in larger capacities, making them suitable for mass storage of files, multimedia,
and backups.

SSDs, in contrast, use NAND flash memory chips to store data with no moving parts. This
allows them to access data almost instantly, resulting in much faster boot times, application
loading, and file transfers. Their compact size, low power consumption, and superior speed have
made them the preferred choice for operating systems and high-performance computing
environments.

In this lab, we explore the physical and technical differences between HDDs and SSDs, and we
perform real-world installation and diagnostic tasks. By using CrystalDiskInfo and CPU-Z, we
measure actual drive performance and health status. This hands-on experiment enhances our
understanding of storage technologies and prepares us to make informed decisions when
assembling or upgrading a computer system.
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Materials and Equipment:

• SATA HDD (e.g., Seagate Barracuda 1TB)

• NVMe SSD (e.g., Samsung 980 500GB M.2)
• SATA Cables and Power Connectors
• Motherboard with SATA and M.2 NVMe Slots
• Screwdrivers and Anti-static Wrist Strap
• Power Supply Unit (PSU)
• CPU-Z and CrystalDiskInfo Diagnostic Software
• Desktop PC Case with Drive Bays
• Windows 10/11 Operating System for Testing
• USB bootable drive (optional for OS installation)

Theory/Background:

Understanding the underlying technology of storage devices is essential for both computer
science students and professionals in IT support or system assembly.

A. HDD and SSD Identification:

• Hard Disk Drives (HDDs):

o Comprise one or more magnetic platters spinning at high speeds (typically 5400
or 7200 RPM).
o Data is read and written using electromagnetic read/write heads that move across
the platters.
o Older drives used IDE (PATA) interfaces, while modern ones use SATA.
o High-end enterprise drives may use SCSI or SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) for
faster performance and reliability.
o HDDs are generally available in 3.5-inch (desktop) and 2.5-inch (laptop) form
factors.
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• Solid-State Drives (SSDs):

o Use NAND flash memory to store data, enabling much faster access times due to
the absence of mechanical components.
o SSD interfaces include:
▪ SATA SSDs (2.5-inch) — same physical format as laptop HDDs, use
SATA cable.
▪ NVMe SSDs (M.2 or PCIe) — plug directly into motherboard slots for
ultra-fast data transfer.
o NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) utilizes the PCIe interface, delivering
read/write speeds that far exceed those of SATA-based drives.

B. Installation and Configuration:

• HDD Installation:
o Typically mounted in 3.5-inch bays using screws or tool-less brackets.
o Connected to the motherboard via a SATA data cable and powered through a 15-
pin SATA power connector from the PSU.
o Must be properly aligned and screwed in to avoid vibrations which can affect
longevity.
• SSD Installation:
o SATA SSDs use the same process as SATA HDDs but are mounted in 2.5-inch
bays or via adapters in desktop towers.
o NVMe SSDs are installed in the M.2 slot on the motherboard. These must be
carefully aligned with the notch, inserted at an angle, and secured using a small
screw.
o BIOS configuration may be required to ensure drives are operating in AHCI (for
SATA) or NVMe mode.

C. Specification Analysis:

Understanding storage specifications is vital for performance evaluation and upgrade decisions:
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• HDD Specifications:
o RPM (Revolutions Per Minute): Determines how fast platters spin; higher RPM
equals faster data access.
o Cache Buffer Size: Temporary storage that helps in smoothing data flow between
the drive and the computer (e.g., 64MB or 128MB).
o Sustained Transfer Speed: Average data transfer rate (e.g., 120MB/s for a 7200
RPM drive).
• SSD Specifications:
o Sequential Read/Write Speed: Speeds when reading or writing large files (e.g.,
3200 MB/s read for NVMe SSD).
o Random Read/Write IOPS: Determines speed for accessing many small files,
crucial for system responsiveness.
o TBW (Terabytes Written): Indicates endurance — how much data can be written
over the drive’s lifetime.
o Form Factor: 2.5-inch, M.2 2280, etc., which must match motherboard and case
compatibility.

Procedure/Methodology:

Step 1: Identifying HDD and SSD Types

• Visually inspected drives to identify interface types:

o SATA HDD: Slim rectangular data and power connectors.
o NVMe SSD: Gold edge connector and key notches for M.2 slot compatibility.

Step 2: Installing the Drives

• SATA HDD Installation:

o Mounted in 3.5-inch bay using screws.
o Connected data cable to motherboard SATA port and power cable from PSU.
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• NVMe SSD Installation:

o Aligned SSD in M.2 slot with proper orientation.
o Secured with a small screw at the opposite end.

• Verified both drives were properly seated.

Step 3: Configuring in BIOS/UEFI

• Powered on the system and entered BIOS (F2/DEL key).

• Verified both SATA and NVMe drives detected.
• Enabled AHCI mode for SATA drives for better performance.
• Adjusted boot order and saved BIOS settings.

Step 4: Analyzing Specifications

• Booted into Windows.

• CrystalDiskInfo:
o Displayed drive health, temperature, interface type, power-on count.
o HDD showed 120 MB/s read speed; SSD showed 3200 MB/s read speed.
• CPU-Z:
o Verified drive models and storage controller specs.
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Step 5: Troubleshooting

• Initially faced non-detection of SSD:

o Resolved by reseating the NVMe SSD and clearing CMOS.
• Ensured proper SATA cable seating and PSU connection for HDD.
• Boot issues resolved by correcting boot sequence in BIOS.

Results and Analysis:

Component Specification Tool Used

SATA HDD 1TB, 7200 RPM, 64MB Cache, 120 MB/s Read CrystalDiskInfo

NVMe SSD 500GB, 3200 MB/s Read, 3000 MB/s Write CrystalDiskInfo

Observations:

• Detection: Both drives were successfully detected in BIOS and OS.

• Performance: SSD exhibited 25x+ faster read/write speed than HDD.
• Boot Time: System boot time reduced significantly when booting from SSD.
• Drive Health: Both drives showed healthy status in CrystalDiskInfo.

Analysis:

• SSDs dramatically improve system responsiveness, ideal for OS and software.

• HDDs still useful for large, cost-effective storage.

Conclusion:

This lab successfully demonstrated the identification, installation, configuration, and

performance analysis of both HDDs and SSDs. Through hands-on activities, we learned how to
distinguish between various storage device types, properly install them using appropriate
interfaces like SATA and M.2, and configure BIOS/UEFI settings for optimal performance.

Using diagnostic tools like CrystalDiskInfo and CPU-Z, we analyzed key specifications such as
read/write speeds, drive health, and capacity. The results clearly showed that SSDs, especially
NVMe types, offer significantly faster performance than traditional HDDs, leading to faster
boot times and improved system responsiveness.

We also practiced basic troubleshooting techniques for common hardware issues, such as non-
detection in BIOS or loose connections. These are essential skills for maintaining and upgrading
computer systems.
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Overall, this lab deepened our understanding of modern storage technologies and their practical
impact on system performance, which is crucial knowledge for any computer hardware or IT
professional.

References:

1. CrystalDiskInfo Documentation. (2024). Retrieved from:

https://crystalmark.info/en/software/crystaldiskinfo/
2. CPU-Z User Manual. (2024). Retrieved from: https://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-
z.html
3. Kingston Technology. (2023). SSD vs HDD: What's the Difference? Retrieved from:
https://www.kingston.com/en/blog/pc-performance/ssd-vs-hdd
4. Western Digital. (2023). Hard Drive Installation Guide. Retrieved from:
https://www.westerndigital.com
5. Intel. (2022). NVMe SSD Performance Analysis Report. Retrieved from:
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/products/details/memory-storage/solid-state-
drives.html

Appendix:

Appendix A: CrystalDiskInfo Screenshots

• Screenshot of SATA HDD read speed, cache size, and health status
• Screenshot of NVMe SSD read/write speeds and temperature

Appendix B: BIOS/UEFI Settings

• Screenshot showing SATA HDD recognized in BIOS

• Screenshot showing NVMe SSD listed in boot priority options

Appendix C: Installation Process Photos

• Photo of SATA HDD connected with data and power cables

• Photo of M.2 NVMe SSD installed on motherboard
• Photo of BIOS setup screen verifying both drives