Are you frequently facing data storage issues? Is your old hard-disk running out of storage space? If yes, then it is the right time to upgrade your storage system. Which is the best data storage system? SSD or HDD. In this article we will evaluate SSD vs HDD. So, would you prefer a traditional and cheaper hard-disk, or invest a little more to get home a faster SSD? No idea? Fret not; we’ve got your back! We have come up with an in-depth research on the differences between Hard-disk and SSD considering various factors to ease up your decision-making process.
SSD and HDD Difference
Hard disk drive or HDD is an old-school data storage device fixed inside your computer. It is made up of mechanical platters or spinning disks where you can store and access your data. HDD uses transducers (heads) to write and read data on a disk. HDD is one of the legacy technologies, which means it has been in the market for a very long time, longer than SSDs. They are cheaper and are available in two different models; 2.5 inches, and 3.5 inches.
Solid state drive or SSD consists of no moving parts. It is more of an electronic device and not a mechanical one. It is the newest and one of the fastest device for data storage as it uses integrated circuits to store your photos, videos, business records, etc. This data storage method reduces the size and enhances the performance of an SSD. They can be designed depending on data storage demand which makes them flexible for slim and convertible laptops. The price of SSD is much more than HDD for the same amount of storage space (GB or TB).
SSD vs. HDD: Speed
SSDs have better performance and more speed because of the usage of integrated circuits to store data. They don’t have mechanical moving parts which lead to a quick start-up and reduce the time for heavy computing tasks. The faster READ/WRITE speed reduces the wait time to boot up, waiting for applications to start-up, or performing intensive data copying tasks.
Speed is also a function of interface protocol used. An HDD uses SATA interface which is older and slower, whereas SSD uses PCle that is newer and faster. Thus, an SSD with PCle will obviously be much faster than HDD with SATA.
SSD vs. HDD: Capacity
When talking about the capacity, HDD is available from 250GB to 14TB, whereas SSD can go anywhere from 120GB to 4TB. Due to the absence of moving parts, SSDs have become more reliable than HDDs. Thus data can be stored in SSDs as intended without getting corrupted. This is because SSDs remain unaffected from vibrations and thermal issues.
SSDs are perfect for laptops as they consume less power, which translates into longer battery life. On the other hand, HDDs consume more power due to the usage of spinning disks. The major problem with HDDs is that they are not shock resistant. If by chance you drop your laptop, there are chances of drive failure (due to the mechanical moving parts inside HDD).
Nowadays, you can readily find hybrid laptops in the market. These laptops make use of both SSD and HDD. SSD is commonly used to store the operating system, applications, programs, and most-used files. Remaining data which is less frequently accessed like images, videos, movies, games, documents, etc. are stored in HDD.
| SSD | Capacity | Read Speed | Write Speed | Cost |
| Intel Optane DC | 100 GB | 2200 MBPS | 1000 MBPS | $300 |
| Samsung 970 PRO | 512 GB | 3500 MBPS | 2700 MBPS | $400 |
| Toshiba OCZ RD400 | 256 GB | 2600 MBPS | 600 MBPS | $329 |
| HDD | Capacity | Read Speed | Write speed | Cache Size | Cost |
| Seagate Barracuda | 1 TB | 195 MBPS | 193 MBPS | 64 MB | $70 |
| Toshiba X300 | 6TB | 200 MBPS | 200 MBPS | 128 MB | $149 |
| Seagate Firecuda | 2 TB | 140 MBPS | 140 MBPS | 64 MB | $129 |
Note: – Prices may vary depending on region and country
Lifespan of SSD
There are some misconceptions around the life span of SSD. Initially, in the 1990s, SSD cells had a limited life span, but now things have improved a lot. We know that the wear rate of a cell is directly proportional to the amount of data written in it. But thanks to the evolving technology, nowadays SSDs come with a data leveling feature that spreads the data evenly across all the cells to minimize the wear rate. Additionally, the latest SSDs use Bad Bock Management. In this method, spare cells take the place of dead cells, thus extending the life of an SSD.
Summary
When it comes to choosing between SSD and HDD, many factors must be kept in mind other than price and capacity. For example, reliability, speed, safety, power consumption etc. play a vital role in the overall experience. If you want more storage space at a cheaper cost, then a HDD can drive great deals to you. But if the performance and safety of your data is your first concern, then investing a little more to get an SSD will be the correct decision.
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