SSD vs. HDD: How to Choose the Right Storage

One of the most essential components of any computer system is its storage device. Whether you are a business professional, artist, editor, or even a gamer, you need room to save your digital library of games and media. But which option is best suited for your demands, a Solid-State Drive (SSD) or a Hard-Disk Drive (HDD)? Together, we will explore which solutions are out there and what is best for your needs.

Hard Disk Drives

First, we must consider the rather large differences between the two formats. The HDD format has been around for quite some time, over 60 years now! Over time they have evolved, going from 3.75 megabytes back in 1956 to today where you can find drives with a capacity as high as 32 Terabytes. HDDs  use internal spinning platters and electro-mechanical components to save and recall information, which is why HDDs are  typically large, dubbing them 3.5” form factors.

Due to the mechanical components inside the HDDs, they are known to be quite fragile. An accidental drop could end up breaking the drive with no way to recover the data. Despite that, people still use HDDs for stationary tasks like setting up a RAID or NAS array. Some use it as a secondary drive to save larger files for various projects where speed isn’t necessarily the most important factor.

Creative users like photo and video editors typically choose drives such as the Seagate IronWolf Pro as a secondary drive for their workloads. This family of drives come in capacities up to 24TB, operate at 7200 rpm, and a 256MB cache, making them great for storing larger swaths of data. These drives can be installed within Network Attached Storage (NAS) systems along with other drives, giving you ample room for your files, media, and more. Security specialists also tend to rely on these drives since they can be configurated to fit hours of recording footage thanks to their higher capacity.

There are also 2.5” HDDs like the Seagate BarraCuda Compute which are designed for laptops and small form factor computers. This particular drive series holds a maximum of 5TB and operates at 5400 rpm, which isn’t exactly the fastest. Despite that, those looking to refurbish older systems and hardware could still find use in this drive.

2.5” SSDs

SSDs come in two different form factors: 2.5” and M.2. Unlike HDDs, SSDs do not have any internal moving components, and data is saved on chips. This is also why portable SSDs have become more common amongst users who are constantly on the move. Since there are no moving parts on the inside, SSDs have a higher rate of survival in the event of a fall or drop, although I still wouldn’t test it out.

The 2.5” SSD features the same SATA III connector as an HDD. The big difference is how internal controllers operate, which gives the 2.5” SSD a bit more of an edge when running more demanding applications. An SSD can almost double the performance of an HDD in most cases.

Drives like the Samsung 870 EVO SATA III SSD offers quick read and write speeds up to 560 and 530 MB/s, respectively. The 870 also has 1GB LPDDR4 cache, Samsung MKX controller, and uses MLC V-NAND technology, all working together to enhance data transfer speeds. With the rise of the M.2 SSD, these 2.5” drives aren’t typically used as often as they once were. But they still serve legacy users and systems that don’t have the appropriate M.2 interface, similar to the 2.5” HDD.

M.2 SSDs

Then we have the M.2 SSD which operates a bit differently compared to HDDs and 2.5” SSDs. Instead of a SATA and power connection, the M.2 SSD receives power and manages files through a single, tiny bus interface; no cables required. Modern motherboards tend to have multiple M.2 interfaces and are quite easy to install, making them the optimal choice by manufacturers, system integrators, and custom builders all over.

Even though the form factor seems to be a “jack-of-all-trades,” there are a couple of outliers out in the wild. For instance, a few M.2 SSDs can still operate at SATA speeds and tend to be cheaper at the cost of performance and longevity. Luckily, these are quite rare these days.

Most modern M.2 SSDs operate on PCIe architecture, using NVMe technology to drive lightning-fast performance that works parallel with your system’s processor. PCIe technology is simplified by generational numbering. PCIe 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0 each have their own respective maximum data transfer speeds determined by your processor. With the rise of PCIe 5.0 technology, the right SSD and CPU combination could net you theoretical speeds up to 14,000 Mb/s! Additionally, M.2 SSDs are backwards compatible with various processors and vice versa. Although, the supported speed of the CPU will always determine the maximum speed of your PCIe M.2 SSD. So, if you install a PCIe 5.0 SSD into your system with a processor that supports PCIe 4.0, you will only get the maximum operating speed of PCIe 4.0.

The downside to SSDs is the cost and capacity. M.2 SSDs currently can hold as much as 8TB, but it comes at a cost. They tend to be a bit more expensive than certain 2.5” SSDs, and in some cases, you might not have a choice but to use this form factor.

M.2 storage drives have become the modern standard due to their performance profile, size, and ability to give users quick access to their applications and media. Chances are, if you have purchased a desktop computer within the last several years, you’ll have one or more M.2 interfaces. Devices such as the Samsung 990 PRO PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSD offers up to 7450 MB/s read speeds and 6900 MB/s write speeds thanks to the internal PCIe 4.0 interface, making this ideal for all types of users.

Gaming enthusiasts especially will find the most longevity out of an M.2 SSD. As most games become larger in size, M.2 SSDs can quickly manage data and enhance loading times. Graphically demanding games that manage multiple assets simultaneously will see massive uplift in performance on the M.2 platform. Additionally, plenty of modern PC games require an SSD as part of their minimum and recommended specifications. Even Sony’s PlayStation 5 console uses M.2 SSDs for expansion purposes.

No matter the storage you are currently using for your tasks, the most important aspect to consider is how much space you need for your programs, files, and games. Replacing a drive is quite easy as each form factor is distinguishable and your choice of drive boils down to specific use cases, making it quite easy to choose the right drive for the right job.

Do you happen to have an older drive that needs replacing or perhaps have a question regarding a system upgrade? Let us know in the comment section below and we will try our best to get you going on the right foot!