Why Should We Replace HDD with SSD? 08 Reasons
Are you still using a traditional hard drive on your computer? You may want to consider replacing it with a solid-state drive. SSDs have many advantages over traditional hard drives and can boost a noticeable performance. In this blog post, I will discuss why you should consider switching to an SSD.
In summary, SSDs have many advantages over traditional hard disk drives. However, they are most notable for their speed and reliability. An SSD can boot up your computer in seconds compared to an HDD. I recommend using NVME SSDs like Samsung 980 Pro (Check on Amazon) and WD Black SN850. Or SATA, go for Samsung 870 EVO
What Is an SSD?
Solid-state drives (SSDs) are computer storage devices that use flash memory to store data. Unlike traditional hard disk drives (HDDs), SSDs don’t contain any moving parts, making them lighter and more durable than HDDs. This makes SSDs perfect for mobile computing applications like laptops or tablets, where weight and space are at a premium.
And since there’s no spinning platter in an SSD, it doesn’t require power to maintain the information stored on it – which is why they’re so much faster than their HDD counterparts!
How does an SSD work?
Well, if you take a regular HDD, They are made up of a series of spinning disks, or platters, that are coated with magnetic material. Data is stored on these disks in the form of tiny magnetic pulses. When you want to read or write data to a disk, the physical arm inside the drive moves to the correct position on the disk, this takes time and requires power for this movement component. In other words, it is slow!
The speed at which a hard drive can read and write data is measured in revolutions per minute, or RPM. The faster the RPM, the faster the drive can access data. The average hard drive today has an RPM of 7200. Some higher-end drives can reach speeds of 10,000 RPM or more. But even these faster drives are still much slower than solid-state drives, which have no moving parts and can thus easily access data.
But not so with SSDs – they have no mechanical components at all, so they’re much faster and more efficient. SSDs store data differently than HDDs: they save data on special flash memory chips. Because the storage is not mechanical and only uses electric impulses, SSDs are much faster than hard drives. Refer How does SSD store data without power?
If you’re looking for a faster laptop or tablet experience, want to reduce the weight of your device, or need something more robust against bumps and drops – consider upgrading to an SSD!
08 Reasons Why You Should Consider Upgrading to an SSD?
1) Speed
An SSD can offer faster boot times than a traditional hard drive. When you turn on your computer, the operating system and all your applications are loaded from the disk. With an SSD, the disk is able to access data much faster than a traditional hard drive, so your computer can start up more quickly.
A typical HDD like Western Digital 2TB WD can read and write data at speeds of 160MB/s. If you take a SATA SSD like the Samsung 870 EVO, it will have a read speed of 560 MB/s and a write speed of 530 MB/s. Further, if you took an NVME SSD like Samsung 980 PRO, it comes with a massive read speed of up to 7000MB/s and a write speed of 5100MB/s. So, if you want a significant performance upgrade, then SSD should be your go-to choice.
2) Less Chance of Hardware Faulty
As anyone who has ever had a computer crash knows, hardware failure can be frustrating and costly. Data stored on a traditional hard drive is vulnerable to being lost or corrupted if the drive malfunctions. Solid state drives (SSDs) offer a solution to this problem because they have no moving parts.
This means that there are fewer opportunities for something to go wrong. In addition, SSDs are not affected by physical shocks in the same way that hard drives are. This makes them ideal for use in laptops and other mobile devices that are more likely to be dropped or jostled. As a result, SSDs offer increased reliability and peace of mind.
Refer: Can SSD Survive Fall? The Truth about SSD Durability
3) No Corruption Due to Magnetism
Hard drives store data on spinning disks that are coated with magnetic material. When a hard drive writes data to a disk, it does so by aligning the magnetic particles on the disk in a particular pattern. This pattern can then be read by passing a magnetic read head over the surface of the disk. Because hard drives rely on magnetism to store data, they are susceptible to damage from magnets. This is why it is not recommended to place magnets near hard drives.
In contrast, SSDs (solid-state drives) do not use magnetism to store data. Instead, they rely on flash cells, which hold the data in an electric field. Flash cells are not affected by magnets, which means that SSDs are much less susceptible to damage from magnets than hard drives.
Refer: Is SSD Affected by Magnets? The Surprising Truth
4) Small Physical Size
SSDs tend to be smaller in physical size. This can be a major advantage if you are working with limited space. For example, you may be able to fit twice as many SSDs into the same amount of space as HDDs. This can be a major advantage if you want to build a small gaming rig or a high-density data center.
5) Energy Efficiency
SSDs use less power than regular hard disk drives (HDDs). This is due to the fact that SSDs don’t have any moving parts, which means they use less power to operate. HDDs, on the other hand, have spinning disks that need more power to function.
6) Lower Latency
To retrieve data from an HDD, the spinning disk must come under the magnetic arm, which can take a few milliseconds to do so. An SSD contains no moving internal parts and data can be read almost instantly as it doesn’t need time to spin around to the correct location.
Because of this lower latency, you will feel that your system is more responsive in general when using an SSD.
7) Lower Noice
Do you ever happen to go to an old data center a few years back? Racks are filled with a lot of raid arrays of regular HDDs. You could hear the noise of those drives from meters away. Imagine if you had filled your whole room with such arrays. You wouldn’t be able to concentrate on work at all.
A traditional hard drive makes a high-pitched whirring sound as it runs, which can be quite annoying. SSDs, on the other hand, run silently, which is a huge selling point for many people.
8) Longer Laptop Battery Life
laptop batteries are not able to hold a charge as long as they used to. While this decrease in battery life is due in part to the increasing power needs of today’s laptops, it can also be attributed to the use of hard drives. A traditional hard drive consists of a spinning disk that is constantly active, even when the laptop is idle.
This constant activity puts a strain on the battery, causing it to drain more quickly. In contrast, an SSD contains no moving parts, and therefore uses less power. As a result, switching to an SSD can potentially increase your laptop’s battery life by up to 50%. If you frequently use your laptop away from a power outlet, investing in an SSD may help to keep you connected for longer.
Are There Any Disadvantages in SSD?
Okay, everybody talks about the advantages of SSD. You may wonder whether there are any disadvantages to using SSDs. OK I can only think of two.
- SSDs are More Expensive than HDDs because of the high tech inside.
- They have a limited number of write operations before wearing out. Refer What Does SSD Wear Level Mean?
When You Should Upgrade From HDD to SSD?
- One key indicator that it might be time to upgrade from a hard disk drive (HDD) to a solid state drive (SSD) is the speed of your computer. If you frequently wait for files to load or programs to start, an SSD can significantly reduce start-up and access times.
- If you’re still using an older computer, upgrading to an SSD can also help to improve overall performance. If your computer is more than a few years old, likely, it’s not equipped to take full advantage of an SSD. However, even a small boost in speed can be noticeable and make everyday tasks feel quicker and more responsive.
- Another factor to consider is capacity. While HDDs typically have larger capacities than SSDs, the price of SSDs has been dropping rapidly, making them a more affordable option for consumers who need a lot of storage space.
- Another reason to upgrade is that SSDs are more durable than HDDs. They are not as prone to damage from being dropped or knocked around.
- Additionally, SSDs use less power than HDDs, which can help to prolong the battery life of your laptop.
Ultimately, whether or not to upgrade to an SSD depends on your needs and budget. However, if you’re looking for faster performance and increased storage capacity, switching to an SSD is definitely worth considering.
What Are the Important Life Expectancy Parameters for SSD?
For SSD, a vital life expectancy parameter is TBW. TBW stands for terabytes written and is the number of terabytes (TB) that can be written to a disk before it starts to wear out.
It is important to note that SSDs often have a warranty period of 3-5 years, which means the life expectancy parameter (TBW) has to be higher than this. This is not always the case, as many factors affect the life expectancy of an SSD.
To know more about TBW, refer Why Does TBW Matter in SSDs?
How To Replace HDD With an SSD?
There are a few things you need to do to switch from a regular drive (HDD) and upgrade it to an SSD:
- Backup your data – Before starting any kind of computer repair or upgrade, it’s always a best practice to back up your important data. If something goes wrong, you still have your information safe and sound. There are many ways to back up your data, depending on what type of files you have. If you have a lot of photos or videos, you may want to use an external hard drive or cloud storage service like iCloud or Google Drive.
- Unplug your computer and remove the old hard drive – Once your data is backed up, unplug your computer from the wall and remove the old hard drive. Be careful when doing this – hard drives are heavy and can be easily damaged if dropped.
- Install the new SSD – Once the old hard drive is removed, install the new SSD in its place. This process may vary depending on your computer model, so be sure to consult your user manual or manufacturer’s website for specific instructions.
- Copy your data back to the new SSD – After the SSD is installed, it’s time to copy your data back to it! Again, this process will vary depending on what type of files you have, but most programs will have an option to restore from a backup or import files directly from another location.
- Start using your new SSD! – After your data is copied back to the SSD, start using it like normal! You should notice a significant speed increase compared to using a traditional hard drive.
Also in this blog I provided many information about SSDs. If you have spare time make sure to check it out.
Conclusion
Hard drives are an integral part of any computer, but they’re not without limitations. Hard disks have moving parts that need to be protected from sudden shocks and require a lot more power than SSDs, making them less efficient in performance too.
The difference between SSDs and HDDs can make it difficult for consumers to choose the best one for their needs. If you want to know whether or not upgrading your current hard drive with an SSD is worth it, take into account how much time you spend on your computer every day and what types of activities you do while using it.
When all factors are considered, most people will find that upgrading their HDD to an SSD is worth the investment.
References
- Solid-state drive : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid-state_drive
