SSD and HDD

Hard disk drives and solid-state drives are two types of computer storage. The hard disk drive is typically slower but has a higher capacity and better overall reliability, while the solid-state drive is faster but has a lower capacity and can be less reliable. This article will highlight the difference between SSD and HDD so that you can get more out of your data storage.

SSD

Simply put, a solid-state drive (SSD) is a type of computer storage flash memory that uses non-volatile memory that can retain data even when power is turned off. The data in an SSD does not need to be saved to disk so disk speed does not affect the speed of data movement – it’s stored in memory. Also, SSDs are designed for use in laptops, tablets and multimedia devices instead of desktops because they are capable of transferring large amounts of information at once, allowing them to operate more quickly.

Uses of SSD

In a traditional hard drive, stored data is placed on disks that spin at high speeds to store data. However, there are several disadvantages to using a hard drive. Like any mechanical device, hard-drive motors require a lot of power and produce heat, which could shorten its lifespan. Additionally, the amount of heat generated by the motor can disrupt the computer’s cooling system if it is not adequately vented. Since an SSD is not actually a physical disk that can be touched or physically moved around (it’s air-tight and connected via cable directly to the motherboard), it does not use as much power or generates as much heat.

Benefits of SSD

1) Disc Speed: Since an SSD does not use a mechanical, spinning disk to store data, it transfers data at a much faster rate. This results in faster boot times and faster application launches, since the computer doesn’t have to wait for the hard drive to spin up to speed. This benefit is particularly noticeable when using applications that use lots of data (i.e. large video files).

2) Size: Unlike hard drives that tend to get larger as they add hard disks inside of them, solid state drives do not have this problem. There is no limit to how large an SSD can be, as the technology does not rely on moving parts and there are no read/write heads that can get smaller.

3) Fragmentation: A typical hard drive will become fragmented over time (if it is not defragmented periodically), due to the way the operating system writes data to the disk. This means that files will take longer to open, since the operating system must search through several different places on disk to find them. An SSD can help alleviate this by storing data in a contiguous manner, and thus accessing it will be faster.

HDD

A hard drive (HDD) is a type of computer storage drive that has higher capacity and better overall reliability but typically are slower than solid-state drives. An HDD uses magnetic disks to store files; the two most common types are the 3.5-inch drive and 2.5-inch drive.

Uses of HDD

Hard drives are the most common storage devices found in desktop and laptop computers. They are used to store your operating system, programs, photos and music files. Since hard drives can store larger amounts of data than other types of computer storage devices, they’re especially useful for large-scale applications such as storing all the songs on your mp3 player or backing up your entire system.

Benefits of HDD

1) Reliability: As a primary disk drive in a computer, an HDD generally lasts longer than a solid-state drive (SSD). The reason for this is that mechanical parts tend to fail faster over time than non-moving parts.

2) Reliability: Since an HDD is a mechanical device rather than an actual disk, it can handle more vibrations and is less likely to get damaged when moved or dropped.

3) Capacity: Since hard drives use a mechanical disk to store files, they have a much higher capacity than solid-state drives. For example, a 2.5-inch hard drive can hold up to 900 GB of data and operate at speeds up to 5400 RPMs. A smaller 3.5-inch hard drive has the same capacity but operates at speeds up to 7200 RPMs.

Difference between SSD and HDD

There are many benefits to using an SSD, such as greater speed, but there are also some drawbacks, one of which is cost. When purchasing an SSD, you’ll have to purchase a computer that supports the SSD or else you can use a separate adapter card that connects it to your computer. An SSD is not compatible with older laptops or desktops, so you’ll have to buy a new computer if you want an SSD. Some other differences are:

1) Mechanical: Hard drives rely on a mechanical disk that spins to store data, while solid-state drives do not have moving parts and do not require constant spinning.

2) Size: Because an SSD is designed to be used in smaller devices such as netbooks or tablets, it is much more compact than an HDD and cannot be defragmented by the operating system while a traditional hard drive can.

3) Fragmentation: Like an HDD, an SSD will become fragmented over time (if it is not defragmented periodically), due to the way the operating system writes data to the disk. This means that files will take longer to open, since the operating system must search through several different places on disk to find them. A traditional hard drive can quickly be defragmented by the operating system, as it will access the same place over and over again, thereby accessing the fragmented file in a matter of milliseconds.

4) Speed: SSDs are more expensive but faster than HDDs, but they make up for it in their quick access times, no moving parts and their durability.

5) Cooling: Because an SSD is solid-state based, there is no need for a cooling mechanism (which is required for HDD use). This eliminates the need for fans and heat sinks, which increases its durability even further.

6) Overheating: Since an SSD has no moving parts like a mechanical hard drive, it can operate at higher temperatures without failing.

Conclusion

There are a lot of different factors to consider when making the decision between an HDD or an SSD. SSDs rapidly respond when opening large files (i.e. 4 MB jpeg, 10MB mp3, 20MB video). They truly leave the HDD in their dust in this respect and I’m quite sure the next iteration of Solid State Drives won’t be so far behind the HDD in terms of performance speed.