SSD VS HDD

We all need storage for our documents, pictures, and movies and with storage getting cheaper and cheaper there is no reason not to save all your data. However, when buying a drive you need to consider more than just capacity and look into speed, reliability, and SSD vs. HDD. But what are the differences between solid state drives and hard disc drives and which should you choose?

HDD

Hard Disc Drives record data, in it’s simplest form of 1′s and 0′s, by magnetizing the platter. (To achieve higher capacities, some hard drives use multiple platters attached to the spindle) There are more specifics we could discuss but as the platters spin, parts are magnetized and un-magnetized and then can be read by the computer as 1′s or 0′s. Prices for hard disc drives are coming down, and capacities are going up, at a tremendous rate but there are risks to storing data on a drive with moving components. Hard drive’s are prone to mechanical failure and can be wiped out by magnets.

SSD

How SSD’s are made.

Solid State Disc’s are basically large flash drives. SSD manufacturers stack multiple NAND flash chips and often package them in standard disk drive form factors such as 2.5in and 3.5in. SSD’s are the future for storing data because they don’t have moving parts inside them and therefore are theoretically more reliable and capable of faster throughput.

Comparison
Solid State Discs have no moving parts meaning seek times are faster than conventional HD’s. SSD’s are also more reliable than standard electro-mechanical disks and are immune to being destroyed by magnets. SSD’s are silent, minus heatsinks on higher end drives, but are also pricey. The cost per GB for SSD’s is much higher than conventional HD’s and even if price is not a factor, SSD’s are currently limited in capacity compared to HD’s.

Like I said, SSD is the future but are limited in capacity. Right now, if price isn’t an issue, I recommend an SSD as your boot volume and standard HD’s for storing files. For SSD’s I recommend checking out the offerings from Intel and conventional HD’s I use western digital green drives. Either way, don’t forget to back-up your data. Nothing’s worse than loosing your irreplaceable pictures and movies.

*Disclaimer: Information in this post is simplified for better understanding.*