Is it hard to choose the storage for your laptops and computers? Most people
may know the two storage components for the computers, but may not know
which one is better. An SSD or a HDD, that’s a question.
SSD stands for Solid State Drive : SSD can be thought of as an oversized
and more sophisticated version of the humble USB memory stick. An SSD
does functionally everything a hard drive does, but data is instead stored on
interconnected flash memory chips that retain the data even when there's no
power present. The chips can either be permanently installed on the system's
motherboard (as on some small laptops and ultraportables), on a PCI Express
(PCIe) card (in some high-end workstations and an increasing number of
bleeding-edge consumer systems), or in a box that's sized, shaped, and wired
to slot in for a laptop or desktop's hard drive (common on everything else).
These flash memory chips are of a different type than is used in USB thumb
drives, and are typically faster and more reliable. SSDs are consequently more
expensive than USB thumb drives of the same capacities.
HDD stands for Hard Disk Drives : It uses magnetism to store data on a rotating platter. A
read/write head floats above the spinning platter reading and writing data.
The faster the platter spins, the faster an HDD can perform. Typical laptop
drives today spin at either 5400 RPM (Revolutions per Minute) or 7200RPM,
though some server-based platters spin at up to 15,000 RPM!
5 Comparisons Measuring SSD and HDD Performance
As the price-per-gigabyte chasm between SSDs and HDDs continues to shrink
(experts expect the gap will close between 2018 and 2020), more and more
people are flocking to SSDs in a variety of uses. In 2014, SSDs powered 21%
of all laptops; researchers forecast that number would double by 2017.
Conversely, HDD implementation was expected to fall from 79% in 2014 to
59% in 2017.
1. SSD vs. HDD: Speed
When comparing the two storage drives, the speed at which data is written
and read is the distinguishing factor between HDDs and SSDs. The former
uses magnetism to store data on a rotating platter; the faster the platter
spins determines how quickly information can be stored. SSDs, however, use
flash memory and an embedded processor to store data.
SSDs provide noticeable performance upgrades, both for consumer-grade
computers and web hosting servers. Many of our favorite hosts that operate
all-SSD infrastructure, including InMotion, A2 Hosting, and DreamHost, say
the configuration leads to page loads that are up to 20 times faster.
2. SSD vs. HDD: Reliability
Because there are no moving parts, SSDs tend to be more durable and can
better withstand the various bumps or jolts your computer experiences. The
read/write process doesn’t degrade, and SSDs will maintain data integrity for
more than 200 years.
With platters that spin at 7,200 rotations (or more) per minute, the
mechanisms inside HDDs are not only subject to more wear and tear, but
they are more susceptible to damage if dropped or bumped.
3. SSD vs. HDD: Lifespan
You know the saying, “speed kills.” While that may be a little exaggerated
when it comes to storage devices, it does hold a grain of truth. SSD cells can
wear out over time, slowly losing performance before dying. According to
many, though, SSD users are far more likely to replace their storage drive
because of obsoleteness than for suffering from a shorter lifespan.
As for HDDs, the argument is much the same with durability: Moving parts
leave more room for things to fail. With only a few nanometers separating the
platter and read/write head, any accidental contact can lead to data loss or
complete failure.
4. SSD vs. HDD: Power Consumption
This comparison can be illustrated pretty simply. Which takes more energy:
running a marathon or tapping buttons on the remote while lying on the
couch? HDDs need to spend extra electricity spinning up a stationary platter
and moving the read/write head around, while the electricity SSDs use is
solely devoted to storing data — no movement, friction, or extraneous noise.
For desktop computers and servers, SSDs equal lower energy bills. On laptops
or tablets, users can typically squeeze out a few extra minutes or hours of
battery life with SSDs.
5. SSD vs. HDD: Gaming
Resource-intensive computer games provide an excellent test of pushing both
storage devices to the limit. However, SSDs make very little difference in
gameplay performance. Framerate issues won’t be solved by a storage device;
those require an upgraded graphics processing unit, or GPU. Some gamers
have reported that SSDs can reduce hitching, or the brief pauses when the
games can’t pull assets from the hard drive fast enough to keep up with the
player.
Overall, SSDs and HDDs are effectively the same when it comes to the action
on the battlefield. The SSD benefits to gamers, however, are the same
experienced by other PC users: faster boot times and quicker game loading.
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