Today when reading tech specs you can find many things including operating system, bundled apps, built-in ports, processor, graphics, size, and storage. Next, to the storage, you will find the size and drive type either being SSD or HDD. But what does this mean and does it make a difference? Well, keep reading to find out.
What is an HDD?
Hard drive disk or HDD is an optical disk in a rectangular box. The disk spins in the box under the head, which is a laser, that reads and writes data.
What is an SSD?
A solid-state drive or SSD is a digital storage option where your data is saved on a microchip and sometimes, depending on the size, many microchips.
So those are the short definition of the two different types of drives. So below is a short test to see which is better.
Which is…
1. Quieter?
SSD: Without a spinning disk or any moving parts at all SSD is a lot quieter.
2. Quicker?
SSD: Once again without the need to spin a disk to gather data instead all the data is connected to the computer at the same time, compared to an HDD which can only read at the speed that the laser and disk can move.
3. Smaller?
SSD: With no mechanical parts like the disk spinner and head of an HDD these chips can be manufactured smaller making them ideal for slimmer mobile computers like the MacBook.
4. Generally, last longer?
SSD: Just like the other three with less moving parts less can go wrong.
5. Use Less Power?
SSD: No moving parts of an SSD use less power than an SSD because there is no disk to spin and no laser to burn. Although most drives will need a power source other than your computer if it is not made to be portable.
6. Physical disk?
HDD: Unlike a microchip of an SSD an actual hard drive can be easier to manipulate, take apart, and use.
7. “Physical Data”?
HDD: With the data of an HDD laser burned into the disk it gives it a more physical feel to it.
Have any other ways to compare them let me know in the comments below
Solid State Drive: 5 Points
Hard Disk Drive: 2 Points
So by reading this, you should assume that SSD is better than HDD and that is the case. As of 2018 SSD are relatively new which makes them more expensive. Also since it is so new the technology has not had time to progress and evolve so still currently the largest storage option you can get is 1TB but you will most likely find a better deal on HDD. There are some larger options but they are rare and rather expensive. But for now, it is still something to look into.
Click here to see a list of the best external drives available on Amazon
Helpful Links:
Wikipedia: Hard Drive Disk
Wikipedia: Solid-State Drive
PCMag: SSD and HHD: What’s the Difference
Storage review.com: SSD vs HHD
SSD
Excerpt from: “What is the Difference Between an HDD and SSD?”
What is an SSD?
A solid-state drive or SSD is a digital storage option where your data is saved on a microchip and sometimes, depending on the size, many microchips. Instead of the data being saved on a moving disk like an HDD, and SSD us many microchips that bundle to make your drive.
An SSD is…
1. Quieter
Without a spinning disk or any moving parts at all SSD is a lot quieter.
2. Quicker
Once again without the need to spin a disk to gather data instead all the data is connected to the computer at the same time, compared to an HDD which can only read at the speed that the laser and disk can move.
3. Smaller
With no mechanical parts like the disk spinner and head of an HDD, these chips can be manufactured smaller making them ideal for slimmer mobile computers like the MacBook.
4. Generally, last longer
Just like the other three with less moving parts less can go wrong.
5. Use Less Power
No moving parts of an SSD use less power than an SSD because there is no disk to spin and no laser to burn. Although most drives will need a power source other than your computer if it is not made to be portable.
Click here to see a list of the best external drives available on Amazon
HDD
Excerpt from: “SSD v. HDD”
What is an HDD?
Hard drive disk, or HDD, is an optical disk, like a CD, in a rectangular box. The disk spins in the box under a head or laser, that reads and writes data. It may sound simple but inside there is a lot more complicated.
An HDD is…
Physical disk
Unlike a microchip of an SSD, an actual hard drive can be easier to manipulate, take apart, and use.
“Physical Data”
With the data of an HDD laser burned into the disk, it gives it a more physical feel to it, compared to the SSD which is a bunch of data coed on to a silicon chip.
Cheaper
Currently, you can find HDDs for not bad prices, compared to SSDs, since the components are cheaper than that of an SSDs
What is an HDD?
Hard drive disk, or HDD, is an optical disk, like a CD, in a rectangular box. The disk spins in the box under a head or laser, that reads and writes data. It may sound simple but inside there is a lot more complicated.
An HDD is…
Physical disk
Unlike a microchip of an SSD, an actual hard drive can be easier to manipulate, take apart, and use.
“Physical Data”
With the data of an HDD laser burned into the disk, it gives it a more physical feel to it, compared to the SSD which is a bunch of data coed on to a silicon chip.
Cheaper
Currently, you can find HDDs for not bad prices, compared to SSDs, since the components are cheaper than that of an SSD