Planeta 42 Games ›

Information Technology Games ›

HDD Parts Puzzle

To play online press the screenshot above and then the start button.
Or you can download the game and play offline.

Simple hard disk anatomy.
Interactive HDD structure in a fun online CS learning game.

The HDD Parts Puzzle is a free online knowledge level game, about the structure of the hard disk drive. Drag and drop the HDD parts in their correct places in the HDD frame. Minute to win it game. A small Computer Technology Class puzzle for desktop computers, laptops and tablets, which may be played in the web browser.

This interactive lesson include the following parts:

Actuator.
Actuator Arm.
Read / Write Head.
Spindle.
Platters.
Debris Filter.
Interface Connector IDE.
SATA Connector.
Power Connector.
Jumpers.

* There is no either IDE and SATA connectors in one HDD, it is represented just for the exercise.

How to play HDD Parts Puzzle.

There are 10 stylized hard disk parts left of the empty frame. Drag and drop them in the frame, where they are usually situated. Sequence is irrelevant. 11 max moves for "A".

Knowledge Achievements:
Know 3 hard disk parts (hardware) and where they fit in the frame box.
Winning the game rewards +1 Knowledge Level.
The download version(bottom of the page) include an executable file for Windows OS with local levels only.

This fun educational game may answer some of the following questions:

How to assemble the hard disk?
What are most important parts of the HDD drive?
Where are the connectors situated?

Class subject: Hard disk anatomy.

We probably never have to break down our hard disks to see what is inside or to fix it, except if some of us become computer engineers. But it is essential to know some basis of the HDD anatomy, so we know how to treat it. And to know the connecting slots is useful even in everyday life. Here are the included HDD parts.

1. Actuator. An actuator is a component of a machine that is responsible for moving and controlling a mechanism or system, for example by opening a valve.

2. Actuator Arm. An actuator arm moves the heads on an arc across the platters as they spin, allowing each head to access almost the entire surface of the platter as it spins.

3. Read / Write Head. Disk read/write heads are the small parts of a disk drive which move above the disk platter and transform the platter's magnetic field into electrical current (read the disk) or, vice versa, transform electrical current into magnetic field (write the disk)

4. Spindle. The HDD's spindle system relies on air density inside the disk enclosure to support the heads at their proper flying height while the disk rotates.

5. Platters. A hard disk drive platter is the circular disk on which magnetic data is stored in a hard disk drive.

6. Debris Filter. Some hard disks have filters to keep the Platters clean

7. Interface Connector. Older type connection with the mainboard

8. SATA Connector. Modern type connection with the mainboard

9. Power Connector. This goes to the PSU.

10. Jumpers. In electronics and particularly computing, a jumper is a short length of conductor used to close, open or bypass part of an electronic circuit. Basically we can make teh disk primary or secondary with jumpers.

11. Frame. The metal frame that holds the hard disk.