FC0-U71 Tech Concepts and Terminology Practice Question
A company is choosing a storage solution for archival data that is rarely accessed. Which TWO characteristics are typically true of HDDs compared to SSDs? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
FC0-U71 often tests the trade-off between HDD and SSD characteristics, and candidates may incorrectly assume SSDs are always cheaper or that HDDs are more durable due to their larger physical size.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Slower access times
Option B is correct because HDDs rely on spinning magnetic platters and mechanical read/write heads, so their seek time and rotational latency make access times significantly slower than SSDs, which have no mechanical delay. Option C is correct because HDDs cost substantially less per gigabyte to manufacture and purchase, making them the economical choice for rarely accessed archival data where capacity matters more than speed. Option A is incorrect because SSDs, using NAND flash memory, deliver much faster read/write speeds than HDDs. Option D is incorrect because SSDs generally consume less power than HDDs, which must continuously spin platters and move actuator arms. Option E is incorrect because SSDs have no moving parts and are therefore more durable against shock and vibration, not HDDs.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Faster read/write speeds
Why it's wrong here
HDDs use rotating platters and mechanical heads, giving far lower sequential and random throughput than SSDs' flash cells, so they are not faster. The claim is tempting because HDDs win on cost per terabyte, which suits archival storage.
- ✓
Slower access times
Why this is correct
HDDs rely on rotating magnetic platters and mechanical read/write heads, so seek and rotational latency make access times far slower than SSDs' flash memory. For archival data that is rarely accessed, this latency penalty is acceptable, satisfying the scenario's low-performance requirement.
- ✓
Lower cost per gigabyte
Why this is correct
HDDs store data magnetically on inexpensive platters, giving a markedly lower cost per gigabyte than NAND flash SSDs. For archival data that is rarely accessed, capacity matters more than speed, so this economics directly satisfies the scenario's cost-driven storage requirement.
- ✗
Lower power consumption
Why it's wrong here
HDDs consume more power than SSDs because a motor continuously spins the platters and drives the actuator arm; SSDs draw less, having no moving parts. The characteristic is tempting because HDDs are cheaper per gigabyte for archival, but power efficiency belongs to flash, not spinning rust.
- ✗
More durable due to no moving parts
Why it's wrong here
Durability from having no moving parts describes SSDs, not HDDs; spinning platters and read/write heads are vulnerable to shock and vibration. It is tempting because HDDs are the cheaper archival medium, but the no-moving-parts advantage is precisely the SSD's mechanical design.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
This FC0-U71 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the FC0-U71 exam.