SSD vs HDD

The main difference between a solid state drive and a hard disk drive is that data is stored on either a small, flash memory chip or a large, spinning memory disk, but this difference plays out across a number of variables.

Solid state drives are advantageous because the memory microchips are much smaller and more compact than large hard drive disks.

As technology advances, data becomes more compressed and SSDs continue to shrink in size, allowing laptops to become thinner, lighter, and easier to transport.

However, while an SSD might be smaller than an HDD, that also means they could be limited in their storage capacity. HDDs offer massive amounts of storage space, making them a leading choice for large-scale servers.

How much storage do you need? Most average users would be fine with 250 to 300 gigabytes (GB). To put it in perspective, you could store about 30,000 average-sized photos or songs with 250GB.

If you plan to download movies or triple-A (AAA) games, you might want to upgrade to a hard drive with 500GB or even 1TB.

That being said, as cloud-based storage alternatives continue to expand and more software converts to online web applications, less importance is placed on internal memory space.

HDD/SATA drives come in a number of different speeds, which affects how quickly your data is relayed. This gives you the flexibility to choose as much or as little processing power you need.

SSD controllers also vary in speed, but they’re almost always faster than HDDs since they use flash memory and do not depend on a mechanical arm to physically read and write data.

Boot up times are significantly quicker for SSDs as well, requiring only about 10 seconds, whereas SATA drives could take up to 30 seconds or more.

Even on lower-end SDD models, the time it takes to open files is much less than an HDD due to the high-speed, interconnected flash memory chips.

Because SSD PCs read files much faster, they’ll run your applications more smoothly and reliably. This is especially true for multi-media users who frequently rely on video editing or digital design software that requires rapid rendering.

According to PC Mag, SSDs boot faster, launch and run apps faster, and transfer files faster [2]. Whether you’re using your computer for fun, school, or business, the extra speed may be the difference between finishing on time and failing.

If you’re running an intense workload and need your computer to execute tasks without a hitch, you probably don’t want to be hobbled by a mechanical hard drive disk and should opt for an SDD.

Those with a short queue depth and greater need for storage will likely be fine operating on an HDD.

SSDs cut down on boot times and load large files faster, but you won’t notice much of an in-game difference between that and an HDD.

Your gaming experience is more dependent on your graphics card and random access memory (RAM), which differs from your hard drive memory in that it’s stored only temporarily, not permanently.

It’s worth mentioning that HDDs are susceptible to fragmentation, and frequent gaming can increase your risk of a fragmented disk.

Fragmentation refers to little bits of data spread out across the memory disk. It’s almost like tearing up tiny pieces of paper and tossing them into the wind, attempting to sort them and then decipher the distorted message.

It forces your computer to work harder to read a single file than it would if the data had loaded in a long, continuous line which will definitely cause it to be slower. A fragmented hard drive can also lead to random crashes or freezes, among a slew of other problems, affecting not only your gaming but your overall PC performance.

SSDs use up to one-half to one-third less power than HDDs do (usually 2 to 3 watts versus 6 to 7 watts). If you’re running multiple HDD workstations in an office space, this is a difference you’d definitely notice on an electricity bill.

Comparing different laptop hard drives, an SSD battery will last two to three times longer than a laptop using a SATA interface would.

When energy-efficiency is at the top of your priority list, a solid state drive is usually the better choice.

HDDs use spinning disks to read and write data, so they perform better in stationary locations where the moving parts are less vulnerable to jostling.

The nature of a solid state drive is less fragile and more likely to protect your data from shock damage in the event of an accidental drop.

Those who are prone to unexpected tumbles should opt for a more durable SSD It lacks the delicately moving parts that could potentially be bumped askew.

To sum it up, an HDD/SATA drive shines in terms of storage capacity. It’s also more approachable in price, costing on average 80% less per GB than the cost of an SSD drive [3].

That said, solid state drives may be worth the price jump depending on your budget and computing needs. They’re usually much more reliable in terms of speed, performance, energy efficiency, and durability.

As an added note, a laptop or desktop PC with a hard SATA drive is much noisier due to the constantly whirring, spinning disk, which also emits more heat than an SSD, meaning fans will be running more often as well.

HDDs offer massive amounts of memory space, but the extra storage capacity typically comes with added weight. Comfort, convenience, and price are all factors worth considering when selecting an SSD vs. HDD.

The HDD has been around for some 60 to 80 years. Almost a decade ago in 2008, SATA hard disks reached near market saturation and were utilized as the standard in as much as 99 percent of drives [4].

Today, SSDs have taken a great deal of the market share due to their superior performance, even despite the uptick in price.

SATA drives still have their purpose, though. They allow you to store massive amounts of information relatively inexpensively. It’s not uncommon to use a SATA interface to expand memory and store data such as pictures, documents, and music libraries while the actual OS is stored on an SSD.

It all comes down to understanding your storage needs, speed requirements, and how you intend to use your computer. Balancing out these different factors will help you find the right hard drive solution.

Whether you choose a traditional SATA hard disk drive or opt for a newer solid state drive, keep in mind that they’re both capable of failure. It’s critical to take the time to back up your hard drive using an external device, cloud-based service, or alternative means.

Now that you know the key differences between the different types of hard drives, you should feel less stressed and more confident in your next computer purchase. With the right backup and security measures in place, you’ll be able to enjoy your investment for years on end.