220-1101 Question 5
Single answerHard disk drive (HDD)/solid-state drive (SSD)A technician is upgrading several office desktops from 1 TB 7200 RPM HDDs to SSDs to improve boot time and application responsiveness. One employee works with very large video files and asks why the technician chose a 2.5-inch SATA SSD instead of another HDD with a larger cache. Which of the following best explains the main performance advantage of the SSD in this scenario?
- A
The SSD provides faster random access because it has no moving parts, which greatly reduces seek time and latency
- B
The SSD increases CPU clock speed during file transfers, allowing applications to open faster
- C
The SSD stores data magnetically in denser platters, which improves boot speed over a 7200 RPM HDD
- D
The SSD eliminates the need for system RAM caching, so large files load directly into the processor
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The best answer is the SSD's much lower seek time and latency due to the absence of moving parts. For A+ Core 1, candidates should understand the practical difference between HDD and SSD performance: HDDs rely on mechanical movement of platters and read/write heads, while SSDs use non-volatile flash memory. As a result, SSDs typically provide much faster boot times, quicker application launches, and better responsiveness in everyday workloads. Although factors such as interface type, controller quality, and workload matter, the core best-practice explanation for replacing an HDD with an SSD is improved storage access performance, especially random I/O. This aligns with common vendor documentation from drive manufacturers and general operating system performance guidance.
- A. Correct.
Correct. A SATA SSD typically delivers much better random read/write performance than a mechanical HDD because it has no spinning platters or actuator arm. This means seek time and rotational latency are dramatically lower, which is why operating systems, applications, and frequently accessed files open much faster. In real-world desktop use, this is usually the primary reason users notice a major improvement after replacing an HDD with an SSD.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. A storage upgrade does not increase the CPU's clock speed. Faster storage can reduce the time the CPU waits for data, making the system feel more responsive, but it does not change processor frequency or directly boost CPU performance.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. This describes HDD technology, not SSD technology. HDDs use magnetic platters, while SSDs use flash memory. A larger cache on an HDD can help in some workloads, but it does not remove the mechanical delays that make HDDs slower than SSDs for booting and launching applications.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. SSDs do not replace the function of system RAM or caching. The operating system still uses RAM and cache mechanisms to improve performance. Data is not loaded directly into the processor from the SSD in the way this option suggests.