Hard drive: HDD or SSD?

What are hard drives?

Hard drives are an essential part of every computer. Whether it is a laptop or a desktop, every computer has a built-in drive. When making a choice, whether buying a new computer or replacing components, we pay attention to the hard drive. If we look around the market, we will notice two types of storage device to choose from: SSD and HDD.

HDD (hard disk drive)

An illustration showing an open HDD What is an HDD? It is a storage device built around a spinning platter or set of platters and heads that read data from them. The casing is usually made of aluminium, while the inside is lined with a soft protective layer. In most HDDs the platters are made of aluminium and coated with a magnetic medium a few micrometres thick. Writing and reading are handled by the aforementioned head, with one head per platter surface. The heads are mounted on actuator arms which, attached to the positioning system, are responsible for placing the head correctly. Prices are around ~PLN 70 for a 500 GB drive. An HDD has its advantages and disadvantages. What is worth noting is the price: the price-to-capacity ratio is really good. Unfortunately, the speed of such a drive is much lower than that of its competitor, from 50 MB / s up to 120 MB / s for more expensive models. The slight noise made by the platters and head working inside the casing may bother some people, but for most it will hardly be a problem. Another issue with this type of drive is the high likelihood of failure, caused mainly by its mechanical design.

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SSD (solid-state drive)

A photo showing an SSD What is an SSD? It is a drive based on flash memory. This type of design makes it possible to achieve amazing speeds, from 250 MB/s to 1000 MB/s. Unlike an HDD, an SSD has no moving parts. Thanks to their design, SSDs are also much more resistant to mechanical damage caused by drops, knocks or shocks. This drive is ideal for gaming computers or for people who use demanding software. Prices are around PLN ~250, for a 500 GB drive. In terms of performance, an SSD outperforms its competitor in every respect. It is faster, quieter and more resistant to damage – simply better. What not everyone knows is that SSDs are energy-efficient! Compared with HDDs, you can save as much as ~PLN 15 a month, assuming the computer runs for 10 hours a day. The only drawback is the price, which plays an important role here. In the longer term, however, an SSD may well turn out to be the cheaper option.

SSHD hybrid drive (solid-state hybrid drive)

What is an SSHD? It is an interesting design that few people have heard of. It combines the features of an HDD and an SSD. It works very simply! Frequently used files are stored in flash memory, as in SSDs, while multimedia and large files are stored on a platter or set of platters, as in HDDs. Prices are around ~PLN 100, for a 500 GB drive.

Summary

An HDD is a much cheaper and slower, yet satisfactory option for most consumers. It allows the computer to be used reasonably smoothly. An SSD provides fast data access, which makes it ideal for people who expect more from their hardware. We must not forget the high price that comes with SSD storage. If you want your hardware to run as fast as possible, I definitely recommend an SSD. However, if a low price and decent quality matter more to you, an HDD is the one for you. And if your budget is limited but you still want good speed, an SSHD may be worth considering, as it offers some of the capabilities of an SSD.

We offer computer servicing, including replacing and installing drives!