Quick Answer
The answer is lower power consumption, as SSDs use NAND flash memory with no moving parts, eliminating the mechanical drag of spinning platters and moving read/write heads found in HDDs. This fundamental difference means SSDs draw significantly less energy, generate less heat, and offer near-instantaneous data access—typically under 0.1 milliseconds—compared to an HDD’s 5 to 15 milliseconds of rotational latency and seek time. On the CompTIA ITF+ FC0-U61 exam, this question tests your grasp of storage technology fundamentals, often appearing alongside other SSD traits like silent operation and shock resistance. A common trap is confusing speed with power draw; while SSDs are faster, the exam specifically asks about power consumption as a distinct characteristic. To remember this, think of the mnemonic “No Spin, Less Sin”—no spinning parts means less power sin, or lower consumption.
This FC0-U61 practice question tests your understanding of it concepts and terminology. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Which THREE of the following are characteristics of a solid-state drive (SSD) compared to a traditional hard disk drive (HDD)?
Faster access times
SSDs have no moving parts, enabling faster data access.
Higher storage capacity typically
Why wrong: HDDs generally offer higher capacities for the same price.
Less susceptible to physical shock
SSDs have no moving parts, making them more durable.
Lower power consumption
SSDs consume less power than HDDs.
More noise
Why wrong: SSDs are silent; HDDs produce noise from spinning platters.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Faster access times
SSDs use NAND flash memory with no moving parts, allowing near-instantaneous data access (typically 0.1 ms or less) compared to HDDs that require mechanical arm movement and platter rotation (5–15 ms). This eliminates rotational latency and seek time, making access times significantly faster.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Faster access times
Why this is correct
SSDs have no moving parts, enabling faster data access.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Higher storage capacity typically
Why it's wrong here
HDDs generally offer higher capacities for the same price.
Less susceptible to physical shock
Why this is correct
SSDs have no moving parts, making them more durable.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Lower power consumption
Why this is correct
SSDs consume less power than HDDs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
More noise
Why it's wrong here
SSDs are silent; HDDs produce noise from spinning platters.
Common exam traps
CompTIA often tests the misconception that SSDs always have higher storage capacity than HDDs, when in fact HDDs still dominate in maximum capacity and cost per terabyte.
Detailed technical explanation
SSDs use a flash translation layer (FTL) to map logical block addresses to physical NAND pages, enabling wear leveling and garbage collection. In real-world scenarios, SSDs excel in environments with high random I/O (e.g., database servers), while HDDs remain cost-effective for sequential bulk storage like video archives.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
What to study next
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FAQ
IT Concepts and Terminology — This question tests IT Concepts and Terminology — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Faster access times — SSDs use NAND flash memory with no moving parts, allowing near-instantaneous data access (typically 0.1 ms or less) compared to HDDs that require mechanical arm movement and platter rotation (5–15 ms). This eliminates rotational latency and seek time, making access times significantly faster.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Which TWO of the following are characteristics of a solid-state drive (SSD) compared to a hard disk drive (HDD)?
mediumWhy B: Option B is correct because SSDs have no moving parts; they use NAND flash memory to store data, which eliminates the mechanical noise produced by spinning platters and moving actuator arms in HDDs. This makes SSDs completely silent during operation, a key advantage in noise-sensitive environments like recording studios or quiet office spaces.
Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
This FC0-U61 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-U61 exam.
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