What is SSHD and Which Is Better: SSD or SSHD

SSHD stands for Solid State Hybrid Drive. It is a type of storage drive that combines the performance of an SSD with the capacity of a hard disk drive. SSHDs are attractive because they combine the best aspects of both technologies into one device, but they are not perfect. This article will discuss what SSHDs are and which options may be better for your needs. We will also go over some pros and cons to help you decide based on your situation.

For a proper understanding of this topic, you must know what a solid-state drive is. Then, you will understand why SSHDs are useful.

In a hurry? Click here to jump to recommended SSHD section. You can be assured I only choose the best products.

What is an SSD (solid state drive) ?

SSD stands for Solid State Drive. It is a data storage device used for storing persistent data on computer systems and other devices, like smartphones or tablets.

SSDs store information in flash memory blocks, it has no moving parts., SSDs can withstand much more physical stress than HDDs and produce less heat and emit very little noise while operating. This makes them particularly useful wherever sensitive electronic equipment needs protection from vibration, shock or extreme temperatures where traditional HDD-based computers would fail due to their delicate mechanics.

An SSD also offers significantly faster data access and retrieval times compared to traditional spinning hard drives, making them the preferred choice for high-performance laptop computers, gaming consoles and other mobile devices that need to load applications quickly.

Additionally, power efficiency is another advantage of SSDs. They consume far less energy than traditional mechanical hard drives. Modern laptops use SSDs as the primary internal storage medium. In fact, most modern desktop PCs have switched to using SSDs as well.

If you are using a laptop battery life may be a major concern for you, then it would be a good idea to have an SSD in your laptop instead of a traditional hard disk drive. In fact, the power consumption difference between the two is so huge that laptops using SSDs can run on battery for at least twice as long as those with HDDs. 

The downside of SSDs is that they are currently much more expensive per gigabyte of storage capacity when compared to traditional HDDs. So you’ll likely have to pay a bit more upfront if you want one in your new computer or device. But with capacities now reaching up into the terabytes range, it’s still a cost-effective option for many users in the long run.

I have written more articles regarding the benefits of SSD. You can check it out here

• Reasons to Consider Replacing Your Traditional Hard Drive With an SSD
• SSD or HDD: Which Is Right for You?
• Choosing the Best SSD for Your Computer: Which is Right For Me?

What is an SSHD?

SSHD stands for Solid State Hybrid Drive, a type of hard drive with solid-state memory. This allows the SSHD to act like an SSD (Solid State Drive) but with storage space similar to regular HDDs (Hard Disk Drives).

As SSHDs combine SSD (for fast access to data) and HDD (for long-term storage at an affordable cost), users get the very best of both worlds when it comes to storage and performance. Those files that require immediate access and are commonly used are stored on the SSD portion of the drive, while those that are less frequently used are located on the HDD.

Advantages of using an SSHD

• Faster boot time, faster app loading due to the SSD part
• Higher capacity thanks to the HDD part
• Affordable Price ( Since this is not a pure SSD )

Disadvantages of using an SSHD

• The HDD section can still be damaged by shock or vibration, leading to errors such as Failed Data Redundancy Errors.
• Due to the presence of moving parts, heat is generated,
• Customers cannot choose what amount of storage they want for both the SSD and HDD sections, for example, SSHDs are comes like 64GB SSD chip with 250GB HDD or 128GB SSD chip with 500GB HDD.
• Can be damage easily if exposed to strong magnetic fields (HDD section)

Which is better SSHD or HDD?

The answer to this question depends on your working needs. SSHD is the best choice if you are seeking enhanced speed and higher capacity on a limited budget. However, if you are looking for secondary storage for storing large files only, a regular HDD will suffice.

Still, hard disk manufactures are manufacturing HDD. HDD also improves their storage density and cost per GB. So if you don’t need a fast drive, go with a regular HDD.

Solid State Hybrid Drives (SSHD) are faster than traditional hard drives (HDD) but not as fast as solid-state drives (SSD). Since they use a small amount of SSD storage to cache data that is used most often, that makes SSHDs faster than HDDs, but not as fast as SSDs.

Is SSHD best or SSD?

Always go for pure SSD if you are in need of a faster PC and if budget is not a concern. The latest SSDs like Samsung 870 QVO , Sabrent Rocket Q, Corsair MP400 offer capacities up to 8TB (Click the links to see them on Amazon). SSHDs are good too. They have a large Flash cache and are only marginally superior to HDDs – because they still have spinning disks.

Both drives are great options that offer excellent read/write speeds compared to traditional hard disk drives (“HDDs”), making them perfect for gaming, multimedia editing, and other data-intensive tasks. However, SSDs always outperform SSHD in the long run where speed is concerned.

Should I use SSHD for gaming?

Yes. SSHDs are a great alternative to traditional hard drives, especially if you’re looking for a way to boost your system’s performance. They offer the benefits of both SSDs and HDDs, making them an excellent choice for gamers who want the best possible gaming experience.

SSHDs combine the speed and reliability of SSDs with HDDs’ affordability and large storage capacity. This makes them an excellent option for gamers who want the best of both worlds.

Should I buy a laptop with SSD or SSHD?

I recommend going for fully SSD if you are able to afford it. As a result, you will be able to have a good performance on your laptop. On the other hand laptops with pure SSDs are usually slimmer and lighter. When your budget is limited, SSHDs will be a good alternative, as laptops with these configurations are generally more affordable, and provide more storage.

You would install the operating system and important applications on your SSD while storing your documents, music, and movies on your normal hard drive. So, you will have a good performing laptop as well as more space.

Recommended reading: The Importance of an SSD in Your Laptop

Recommended SSHD Brands

Here I listed down the best SSHD brands that you can use on your PC. These were chosen based on their highest ratings and recommendations by experts. Click on the links to see them on Amazon.

Brand	SSD size	HDD size	Amazon Link
Seagate Gaming SSHD	8GB	1TB, 2TB, 4TB	Check on Amazon
Seagate Firecuda	8GB	500GB	Check on Amazon