A hard disk drive (HDD) keeps your data on spinning platters, while a solid-state drive (SSD) stores files in flash memory. Which should you get for your next upgrade?
Here are 10 key differences between SSDs and HDDs to help you choose which one is best for you.
1. Price per gigabyte
The biggest difference between SSDs and HDDs is the price per gigabyte. As of writing this article, HDD prices are 21 times higher than similar capacity SSDs. That means it will cost you $0.00021 per GB for an HDD compared to $0.000000021/GB with an SSD! If that doesn’t sound like a big difference, consider that a 1TB HDD would cost you $21 while the same capacity SSD would only set you back $2.
2. Capacity
HDDs max out at around 8TB, while SSDs can go up to 4TB or more.
3. Weight
HDDs are typically heavier than SSDs because of the spinning platters and associated mechanisms.
4. Size
HDDs are larger in physical size than SSDs because of the spinning platters.
5. Durability
SSDs are more durable than HDDs because there are no moving parts that can wear out over time.
6. Operating temperature
SSDs can operate within a wider range of temperatures without affecting performance, whereas HDDs perform better at a more consistent temperature range.
7. Power consumption
HDDs require more power than SSDs, which is one reason SSDs are often found in mobile devices like laptops and tablets rather than larger machines that require HDDs.
8. Noise
SSDs typically run silently because there are no spinning platters or other associated mechanisms to make noise. HDDs can be very loud when they spin up for the first time after being powered on or off, as well as when accessing data due to their moving parts. For this reason, you’ll often find them installed in servers where the sounds of the hard drives don’t matter much because nobody will be directly near them (and computers generally have fans that mask any noise).
9. Heat
HDDs generate more heat than SSDs, due to their spinning platters and associated mechanisms.
10. Lifespan
SSDs typically have a longer lifespan than HDDs. This is because the flash memory in SSDs can last for about 10 times as many write cycles as hard drives. In other words, if you write data to an SSD 10 times, it will wear out the same as if you wrote data to an HDD 1 time. So overall, if you’re not going to be changing your data very often (or at all), then an HDD would be a better choice because of its longer lifespan.
CONCLUSION:
Overall, there are many key differences between HDDs and SSDs that you should consider before making a purchase. HDD prices are cheaper per gigabyte, but offer less capacity than SSDs. HDDs are also heavier, larger in physical size, and generate more heat than SSDs. On the other hand, SSDs are much more durable, operate within a wider range of temperatures, and consume less power than HDDs. Lastly, SSDs typically have a longer lifespan than HDDs.
So which one is the best for you?
It really depends on your needs and what you plan to use your storage device for. If you need a lot of space and don’t mind sacrificing some performance, then an HDD would be a good option. But if you’re looking for faster speeds and’t need as much storage capacity, then an SSD would be a better choice.
Of course, there are many other factors that will influence your decision as well, but these 10 key differences between HDDs and SSDs should give you a good idea of the benefits of each device.
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