How does your CPU control a HDD, does the HDD have its own tiny processor to tell the arm where to move?
In: Technology
Yes. Your CPU sends generalized instructions via the bus to the HDD. The HDD has it’s own circuit board which has a Main Controller Unit (MCU), Memory (cache), a motor controller and a ROM containing the drives’ firmware. This mini computer serves to controls how data is both read and written to exact locations on the disc.
As far as your motherboard/CPU is concerned it is sending an instruction to read from or access a particular memory address on the hard drive – think of it like giving someone your address – that doesn’t mean that the person knows exactly where you live – they still need to look it up on their GPS app to find you. The hard drive circuit board does the actual hard work of interpreting an address to an exact physical location.
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