The most important part when building a computer system is its storage device. In past, only HDD (Hard Disk Drive) was used for storage. However, with technology advancement, SSD (Solid State Drive) soon gave tough competition to HDD. SSD being the latest and HDD having an established reputation has left users in a dilemma which to use.
To clear the confusion, we share with you difference between both the types of storage device which will come handy while building a PC.
Difference between HDD and SDD:
Both HDD and SSD are storage devices. However, where HDD (Hard Disk Drive) uses a rotating disk to store and retrieve data, SSD (Solid State Drive) does not contain any moving parts. Instead on SSD, the data is stored on memory chips which are interconnected.
Apart from being storage devices they both differ in almost every aspect. Let us look at the differences between both the devices.
Price
It is one of the major difference between these two storage devices. Considering it is more advanced, usually SSD is 5 times more expensive than HDD. Price factor is the main deciding factor for users.
Capacity:
While comparing the price, if you search for the equivalent SSD in the price of HDD you will get very low storage in SDD. You can get both the drives in 4 TB capacity; however, you might want to drop the idea as cost of 4 TB SSD will be very high.
Speed
Since HDD contains moving parts, its read/write speed will depend upon the speed at which the disk spins. And once the disk is full of data, it is written on different parts of the disk so the data becomes scattered, which is called fragmentation. This reduces the speed of the read/write operation over time.
Whereas, SSD does not contain any moving parts. Fragmentation is also not an issue as it is designed in such a way that data is stored in a scattered manner in the cells. Therefore, data is fetched at a higher speed than HDD.
Fragmentation
Fragmentation problem arises in HDD as it uses rotatory parts for recording the data, which works best when the data is stored in continuous manner.
This is not the case with SSD as it contains not moving parts and the date is stored in different cells.
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Durability
A device which contains mechanical parts is more likely to get damaged if it is dropped or shaken while in working state. Therefore, HDD is less durable than SDD.
Size
Due to moving parts, there is a limit on the size of the HDD that can be manufactured. Usually, you will find two basic sizes i.e. 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch.
However, it’s not the same with SSD as it is made of electronic parts and will continue to shrink in size. Currently you can find 1.8-inch, 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch SSD.
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Noise
SSD makes no noise at all, since it is electronic and contains no mechanical parts.
When using HDD, you can hear some ticking, vibrations and other moving parts sound.
Power
SSD is more efficient than HDD in terms of power.
SSD contains, no moving parts, which means no friction and no extra use of power in moving the parts, therefore, it is more efficient than HDD.
Verdict
We hope analysis of the major differences between SSD and HDD are helpful to you.
If you prefer latest technology with extra advantages then SDD is the option for you. However, if you want to save some money and don’t mind using a technology which has been tried and tested over the years then HDD is the best option.
You can also opt for a dual drive system, which lets the user take small storage SSD for the OS installation and use HDD for storing files.