SSD vs. HDD. 5 Performance Comparisons of SSD and HDD

 

Is it difficult to select storage for your laptops and computers? Most people are aware of the two computer storage components, but are unsure which is superior. Which is better, an SSD or an HDD?

SSD is an abbreviation for Solid State Drive. SSDs are essentially a larger and more sophisticated version of the humble USB memory stick. An SSD performs the same functions as a hard drive, but data is stored on interconnected flash memory chips that retain the data even when there is no power. The chips can be permanently installed on the motherboard of the system (as on some small laptops and ultraportables). on a PCI Express (PCIe) card (found in some high-end workstations and an increasing number of cutting-edge consumer systems), or in a box sized, shaped, and wired to replace the hard drive in a laptop or desktop computer (common on everything else). These flash memory chips are not the same as those found in USB thumb drives, and they are typically faster and more reliable. As a result, SSDs are more costly than USB thumb drives of the same capacity.

 

HDDs, or Hard Disk Drives, store data on a rotating platter using magnetism. A read/write head floats above the spinning platter and reads and writes data. The faster the platter spins, the more quickly an HDD can perform. Typical laptop drives today spin at 5400 RPM or 7200 RPM, though some server-based platters can spin at up to 15,000 RPM!

SSDs and hard drives perform the same function: they boot your system and store your applications and personal files. However, each type of storage has its own set of features. What is the difference between them, and why would you choose one over the other?

5 Performance Comparisons of SSD and HDD

As the price-per-gigabyte gap between SSDs and HDDs continues to narrow (experts predict the gap will close between 2018 and 2020), an increasing number of people are turning to SSDs for a variety of applications. SSDs powered 21% of all laptops in 2014, and researchers predict that figure will more than double by 2017. HDD implementation, on the other hand, was expected to fall from 79 percent in 2014 to 59 percent in 2017.

Hard disc drives (left) typically come in standard sizes, whereas solid-state drives can vary slightly in appearance.

With SSD pricing rapidly becoming obsolete, here are five other ways to compare HDDs and SSDs to determine which option is best for you.

1.    SSD vs. HDD: Speed

When comparing two storage drives, the way in which data is written as well as read distinguishes HDDs from SSDs. The former makes use of magnetisation to store data on a rotating platter; the speedier the platter spins, the faster information can be stored. SSDs, on the other hand, store data using flash memory and an embedded processor.

SSDs significantly improve performance in both consumer-grade computers and web hosting servers. Many of our favourite hosts that use all-SSD infrastructure, such as InMotion, A2 Hosting, and DreamHost, claim that the configuration results in up to 20 times faster page loads.

2.    SSD vs. HDD: Reliability

Because there are no moving parts, SSDs are more durable and can withstand the various bumps and jolts that your computer may encounter. The read/write process is not degraded, and SSDs can keep data intact for more than 200 years.

 

With platters spinning at 7,200 (or more) rotations per minute, the mechanisms inside HDDs are not only subject to more wear and tear, but they are also more prone to damage if dropped or bumped.

3.    SSD vs. HDD: Lifespan

"Speed kills," as the saying goes. While that may be a little exaggerated when it comes to storage devices, there is some truth to it. SSD cells can deteriorate over time, losing performance gradually before dying. Many SSD users, however, believe that they are far more likely to replace their storage drive due to obsolescence than because they have a shorter lifespan.

 

When it comes to HDDs, the argument is similar to that of durability: moving parts leave more room for failure. Because the platter and read/write head are only a few nanometers apart, any accidental contact can result in data loss or complete failure.

 

4.    SSD vs. HDD: Power Consumption

This contrast can be illustrated quite simply. Running a marathon or tapping buttons on the remote while lying on the couch requires more energy. HDDs require additional power to spin up a stationary platter and move the read/write head around, whereas SSDs use only power to store data — no movement, friction, or extraneous noise.

 

SSDs equal lower energy bills for desktop computers and servers. With SSDs, users can typically get a few extra minutes or hours of battery life on laptops or tablets.

5.    SSD vs. HDD: Gaming

Computer games that require a lot of resources are an excellent way to put both storage devices to the test. SSDs, on the other hand, make very little difference in gameplay performance. Framerate issues will not be resolved by a storage device; instead, an upgraded graphics processing unit, or GPU, is required. Some gamers claim that SSDs can reduce hitching, or brief pauses caused by the games' inability to pull assets from the hard drive quickly enough to keep up with the player.

 

When it comes to battlefield action, SSDs and HDDs are effectively interchangeable. However, the SSD benefits for gamers are the same as those experienced by other PC users: faster boot times and faster game loading.

 

How to Transfer: Migrate or Clone HDD to SSD

However, when upgrading their desktop or laptop storage, Windows and PC users frequently struggle with fitting the operating system and personal files onto a smaller-capacity drive. Cloning the drive is typically the simplest way to move an existing Windows installation without reinstalling the operating system. However, due to storage constraints, not everything may fit. Here are the steps to take to correct this:

1.       When switching to an SSD, you should probably start by cleaning up your current HDD: Delete unnecessary files, uninstall unnecessary programmes, and use the disc cleanup utility to clear out any remaining clutter. Personal files may need to be transferred to an external hard drive, a second internal storage device, or cloud storage.

2.       When your system is ready to be relocated, you can use a backup and disaster recovery programme to clone your data to the SSD. We like EaseUS Todo Backup, which is a free programme that can optimise disc images for SSDs. EaseUS provides instructions for both Windows 8 and Windows 7 users.

3.       Now that the cloning is finished and you've confirmed that all of your files were successfully transferred to your SSD, boot your pc from the new drive and reformat the HDD to consider removing your files. If you had to remove your documents, images, and videos in Step 1, you can recover your personal files from the HDD. As a result, you can use SSD speed to boot up the system and load applications while still having easy access to your data.

Although balancing the two hard drives can be challenging at first, PC users will undoubtedly benefit from the significantly improved SSD performance and stability. Both drives will last much longer if they share the workload and are properly maintained.