HDD or SSD in PCs | Learn how to build a computer

In this post, I want to help you choose between an HDD and an SSD. We’ll see the difference in the way these storage devices work, advantages and disadvantages, specifications to be considered in operation, how to select the right option for you, and some maintenance tips for SSDs.

A hard disk drive (HDD), is an electromechanical data storage device that uses magnetic storage to store and retrieve digital information using one or more rigid rapidly rotating disks (platters) coated with magnetic material. (Wikipedia)

A solid-state drive (SSD) is a solid-state storage device that uses integrated circuit assemblies as a memory to store data persistently. (Wikipedia)

Main advantages and disadvantages of HDDs and SSDs

Both HDDs and SSDs are non-volatile storage types, meaning that stored data is retained even when powered off. That is their common feature. The difference between a hard disk drive and a solid-state drive is: HDDs use a paired magnetic head that reads and writes data while the platter spins and SSDs use interconnected flash memory.

There are three main attributes that can be used to compare HDDs and SSDs:

speed
storage capacity
cost efficiency (cost per GB)

An HDD advantages over an SSD: total storage capacity and cost efficiency.

SSDs main feature is speed. An SSD is 25 to 100 times faster than a typical HDD. SSDs are fragmentation-free, while HDDs are prone to fragmentation. An SSD is more expensive than an HDD in terms of dollar per GB. This is one of the primary disadvantages of a solid-state drive.

Other specifications to be considered when comparing HDDs and SSDs

Power draw and heat

For an HDD more is required to rotate the metallic platter and move that magnetic head. SSDs operate at lower temperatures than HDDs. This reduces system power and cooling requirements and helps to prevent premature component failure.

Noise and vibration

Because operation relies on moving parts, HDDs vibrates and produce noise. Since there are no moving parts in SSDs, there’s no sound or vibration

Lifespan

SSDs have a shorter lifespan than HDDs. The flash memory of an SSD can only be used for a finite number of writes. An SSD cannot write a single bit of data without first erasing and then rewriting very large blocks of data at one time. As each cell goes through this cycle, it degrades further.

Reliability

HDDs are prone to integrity failure or data loss. Disk surface can be damaged because magnetic heads can crash into the spinning platter.

Magnetic sensitivity

An SSD is safe from any effects of magnets, while on HDDs magnets can corrupt data.

So which is the better option, an HDD or SSD?

There’s no straight-forward answer to this question; you have to evaluate the decision based on what you’ll use the PC for, and the budget you have.

An HDD might be the right option if:

you need more capacity
you don’t want to spend much money
you don’t care too much about how fast the PC boots up or opens programs

An SSD might be the right option if:

you need a fast PC
you are willing to pay for speed
you don’t mind limited storage capacity or you are willing to pay for it (consumer SSD now go up to 4TB)

There is also the option of using one of each in a PC. You can use SSD to host the operating system and programs, which will speed up booting and application launching. You can use the HDD for storage of other files and data where speed is less important.

Don’t forget that whether you’ve chosen an HDD, an SSD or both you need to back up your data regularly. I recommend having a local backup and a cloud one. You can read more here.

HDD or SSD and PC advertisements
In a typical PC advertisement, the price and manufacturer’s name are listed at the top, followed by the processor’s name and the DRAM and HDD sizes are given in gigabytes or terabytes, below. Thus, the larger capacity of a hard disk is used as a sales argument. SSD is more expensive than an HDD in terms of dollar per GB. In this case, if you choose the HDD the purchasing decision has more to do with storage capacity than performance.

Essential tips for SSDs maintenance

Reduce writes to SSDs

This is the key to maximizing an SSD lifespan. The latest operating systems have SSD-friendly settings that help reduce unnecessary writes.

Never use more than 70% of an SSD’s total capacity.

While SSDs are way faster than HDDs, they dramatically slow down performance as you fill them up. When you’re getting close to the 70% threshold, you should consider upgrading your computer’s SSD with a larger one.