With the advent of solid state drives, many questions arise regarding their advantages over a conventional hard drive. We will consider two options, as well as compare SSDs with HDDs and show the shortcomings of each.
When comparing several types of drives, whether it is a flash drive, disk, solid state drive or hard drive, it is necessary to take into account their characteristics and technical capabilities.
Ordinary disks are able to store information until the outer shell is damaged, after which data recovery is impossible. It is also known that on some discs you can write data once, and some are designed to reuse recording and erasing procedures.
With flash drives, users were given the opportunity to permanently store data without fear of scratches. The internal device of the flash drive is based on a microchip and a small memory chip. This allows you to format it many times, adjusting it to the desired format, based on current needs. The main disadvantage is the lack of data encryption, which puts them at risk of virus infection or interference.
A hard drive is used as permanent storage, the size of which currently reaches 6-8 terabytes. It is installed inside the system unit and connected to the motherboard. If it fails, the user can recover part of the data if he consults specialists. There are options for external drives, which also have a mechanical structure. Their sizes are no different from standard hard drives, and their case reliably covers all metal parts. However, like all representatives of this drive, they are not protected from physical impact. An external hard drive is connected using the USB port, and the data transfer speed depends only on the cable bandwidth.
With the advent of SSD drives, storage performance has moved to a new level. Their performance, low latency, compact size, low weight, minimal power consumption and the absence of moving parts allowed them to occupy a leading position in the field of data storage. Each SSD has its own data encryption bit. It is this quality that allows you to connect both stationary and portable media to any device without fear of virus infection or data corruption by interference. Portable versions are connected via USB and Thunderbolt. The latter is often used in macbooks and has a high data transfer rate.
The principle of operation of the hard drive
Before comparing SSDs and HDDs, you need to understand how both drives work. A hard disk or ROM (read-only memory) is designed for long-term storage of data and the operating system, without which the computer is just a pile of iron. You can not confuse a hard drive with RAM, since it has a smaller memory supply and all data in it is erased after turning off the computer. The acronyms of RAM and ROM are completely different things, but many novice users confuse them.
The mechanical view of the drive consists of several small disks located on top of each other. Each disk is magnetically coated. A special head reads or writes data by moving it above the surface of a disk that rotates at high speed. This process takes some time before the result is known.
In modern computers, up to six hard drives can be installed, each with six terabytes. Unlike RAM, the volume of a mechanical drive is unlimited.
Job
Comparison of SSDs with a hard drive can be started with its internal description, since it is the design that distinguishes drives from each other. Inside the solid state there is one microcircuit on which there are contacts for connection and memory chips. Also, the drive can be with a 2.5 connector, and can be connected using the PCI-E interface. Some motherboards have an M2 connector, which is also designed for a solid state drive with a similar connection method.
In comparison with the speed of SSD and HDD, the first option wins, since the chip is not a mechanic. The principle of operation of the SSD is that the disk instantly processes the request that the processor sends. After that, the drive directly accesses the requested information, which significantly reduces the delay time and speeds up the disk.
The head spends a lot of time sequentially reading and searching for the requested data, but there are no such devices on the board, so the disk instantly responds to a user request. This proves once again that the use of microcircuits is much more productive than a disk with a magnetic coating.
Historical data
Magnetic hard drives have a rich history and evolution that began in 1956. Then, thanks to IBM, the first magnetic drive with a volume of 3.75 megabytes appeared. The design of this hard drive consisted of fifty round plates, and their diameter was 61 centimeters. This design took up a lot of space, and the computer as a whole was the size of a one-room apartment.
These computers were used by research institutes and governments of different countries until 1969. However, ten years later, hard drives underwent a total change, like computers in general. Their abilities became more diverse, and their sizes were becoming smaller.
First, 5.25-inch discs were released, and after them - 3.5 and 2.5 inches entered the market. The capacity of such a drive did not reach even one and a half megabytes, and some manipulations were required to start the computer. First, a floppy disk was inserted, then the computer was started, and after that it was necessary to enter several commands to start the operating system.
Since most of the computers at that time did not have a built-in drive, I had to connect removable media and enter a number of commands to start the system.
Now, a special third-generation SATA protocol is used, which has a large memory capacity (up to eight terabytes), as well as a set of instructions. Among them there is a special controller that allows you to monitor its status and prevent a threat.
Some more history
Comparison of SSDs with mechanical drives began not so long ago as magnetic hard drives appeared. The first laptop in which this drive settled was the OLPC XO – 1. Due to their compact size, laptops could not afford full-size hard drives. Therefore, manufacturers decided in favor of solid state drives, since they take up less space and do not consume much power, which is good for laptop computers, because in this case the battery will not quickly discharge.
Following this laptop, ASUS company was in time, where the memory chips were located directly on the motherboard. This saved space and reduced response time to the request. The volume of such an SSD was two gigabytes. Later, more practical laptops appeared with improved drive options.
Comparison of SSD and HDD in price
The first difference between the two species is felt in value. Standard hard drives are available to any user, since the price range is quite acceptable. Another thing is a solid state drive, which is very different in price.
The thing is that the materials from which the drives are made are different, so there is such a different price range. However, to this day, this issue is considered relevant, so manufacturers are trying to look for analog materials, which can already be seen by how rapidly the price of such devices decreases.
Speed
A comparison of the speed of SSD and HDD leads to the conclusion that the first option is still superior to the second. The fact is that the SSD is almost twice as fast, which allows you to load the system and "gluttonous" games in a few seconds. This is because the time it takes to search for a response to a request is reduced, since there is no need to wait until the disk finds information and considers it. Unlike HDD, this representative does not have a disc with sequential recording of information.
The average speed of the latest generation hard drive is 300 megabytes, and solid state storage has a speed of up to 600 megabytes per second. Only the only “but” will make you more attentive - the data will be deleted as fast as it is being downloaded, so you should carefully review the deleted files.
Fragments and Hard Drives
Now that everything is clear with the comparison of SSD and HDD speeds, you can move on to the “Achilles heel” of the hard drive. A mechanical drive strains less when dealing with capacious files, such as high-quality movies. However, when it comes to recording a lot of small data, this leads to a technical confusion on the hard drive because every file needs to be processed.
With each subsequent erase and write operation, the drive starts to work more slowly. This is justified by the fact that many files are located on the surface of the magnetic disk, and when the user double-clicks on any of them, the head tries to find and read it. That is, it turns out that the data sequence is broken, and this leads to fragmentation. Thus, the downloaded data takes their place and disrupts the order.
For these kinds of problems, many programs have been created that defragment the hard disk and build a new chain of serial data. This procedure allows the drive to last some more time. Constant defragmentation prevents the appearance of bad sectors and normalizes the hard drive.
Benefits
The main quality in comparing the operation of SSDs and HDDs is high wear resistance. The absence of mechanical parts allows you to work on a computer with a solid-state drive in the most extreme conditions, for example, on the road, where there is vibration everywhere. If the laptop uses an SSD, then even a drop will not damage its contents. External carriers of this type have the same advantages, but the price is rather high.
Many users prefer to shop at online stores. They forward their orders through various delivery services, but not all services conscientiously fulfill their responsibilities. That is why high strength is so important, otherwise it is impossible to guess what damage was received.
If, when comparing the reliability of an SSD, the question arises of damage due to mechanical shock, then in this embodiment the disk is much more likely to survive. HDD has no such chance at all. The fact is that his device is very fragile, and the slightest vibration can damage it. For this reason, it is recommended that you do not expose it to external physical impact, since this will lead to an absolute malfunction. Easy vibration, one push - and the storage turns into a bunch of useless spare parts.
Despite such irreplaceable quality, SSD has its drawbacks. Among them, it is worth noting the restriction on use. All SSDs have a certain number of write cycles that end after eight years of use. After their completion, anything can happen - the disk can work another day or a month, or it can instantly shut down. Manufacturers are gradually increasing the number of rewriting cycles, but an endless result has not yet been achieved. In this case, a comparison of the SSD and HDD drives leads to a decision in favor of the second option.
Dimensions
Since it is believed that the future lies in nanotechnology, it is for this reason that manufacturers are trying to reduce the devices to the most compact sizes. However, the smaller the size, the less memory. Thus, the smallest HDD has only 320 gigabytes. It is impossible to overcome this threshold, because it contradicts all the laws of physics.
In the field of SSD, everything is much more optimistic, since microcircuits can be of any size, and mechanical parts take up a lot of space. These technologies make it possible to use thinner cases in modern ultrabooks. The only catch remains only in limiting rewriting cycles.
Noise level
Even the most modern mechanical device makes noise during operation. The rotation of the discs, the rustle of the reading head - over time, these sounds become louder. Also, rotation increases the temperature of the disk, which leads to strong heat generation. Since the hard drive does not have its own cooling, it is necessary to install additional fans in the case for better airflow.
Meanwhile, the power consumption of the SSD in comparison with the HDD is much less, and accordingly - the device heats up less. All this thanks to the built-in temperature controller, which turns off the system if the SSD is subjected to excessive overheating.
SSD 120 Gb
Comparison of budget SSDs is worth starting with their design. They use a SATA 3.5 connector. Of course, their sizes are suitable for 2.5-inch connectors, but in modern cases special rails are placed, thanks to which the solid-state drive can be connected via standard ports. You can still use adapters, but this is an additional cost.
The most common type of SSD comparison is Kingston. This company was one of the first to develop the solid-state drive market. The difference of this disk is that even if there is no slide in the case, that special kit will be presented with it. It is mounted in the housing by placing it in a standard connector, after which it is screwed to the housing.
A successful hard drive manufacturer, WD also introduced the world to its sample flash drive, which has a SATA 3 interface. Compared to the 120GB SSD, this representative has a number of qualities:
- The special Trim design allows the drive to operate in high-performance mode throughout its entire service life. To make it easier for the controller to cope with its work, which is to determine the blocks, this technology independently checks the records.
- Like the previous hard SSD, this model has a life of about a thousand hours, and also increased impact resistance.
- Due to the fact that the energy consumption of representatives of solid-state drives is low, this extends the battery life of laptop computers.
SSD Samsung
SSDs from one company can function differently, so it’s worth comparing Samsung SSDs. Model MZ-750250BW has a memory capacity of 240 gigabytes. To store a large amount of data, this is not enough, but for the operating system is enough. Also on it you can put any productive game or program for working with graphics. Many manufacturers do not recommend using solid state drives as permanent storage. Firstly, it is not practical and expensive, and secondly, for better data processing speed, a certain amount of free space should remain on the disk. Therefore, you cannot completely fill the SSD.
One of the most irreplaceable qualities of this disk is that it perfectly combines price and quality, which is important for such devices. If we compare the SSD controllers, this company uses Samsung MGX, which has improved error correction methods, and there is also an option due to which a buffer based on the new generation RAM is used. Comparison of SSD drives does not end there.
The speed of this drive is simply phenomenal - 520 and 540 megabytes per second, but its service life is only a million hours, after which the drive will demonstrate a failure. Manufacturers knowingly indicate the number of hours of operation, because after they expire, the drive can no longer be repaired under warranty.
Among the advantages, one can also note a small weight, which positively affects the weight of the entire system, as well as the ability to encrypt information. Like many drives, this one has 128 bit hardware encryption.
Another representative of this company, MZ-75E1T0B, has one terabyte of memory. For greater throughput, the drive has a working SATA 600 interface, and the cache is one megabyte.
In comparison in speed, the SSDs of both models are equal to each other. This disk consumes only three and a half watts when performing nearly thirty thousand operations per second. And in passive mode, energy consumption is reduced to one watt.
SAS and SSD comparison
The SAS connector is universal, as it can connect to almost any interface for hard drives. However, comparing SAS and SSD, you can see that the first option has a much smaller amount of memory, unlike a solid state drive. It is only 300 gigabytes.
Among the advantages of this connection, it can be noted that the SAS configurations in the installation are superior to their counterparts, since the installation takes place in a lightweight form. And their reliability is not inferior to solid-state hard drives.
The purchase of these types of disks implies the presence of a controller for them, which leads to additional costs, so it is worth correctly allocating the budget for the purchase of the server. Comparison of SSD drives will help you make a choice.
Due to its fault tolerance, SAS-based hard drives are used for server purposes. Standard-type hard drives can connect to SAS, but backward compatibility does not exist, even with adapters.
The only significant drawback, in addition to the small volume, is the price, which some users consider prohibitive.
Intel SSD
The eminent company, which is known for manufacturing processors, has also released solid state drives. Disc sales enabled the company to securely gain a foothold in the market for this range. It is known that the chips of this company are the most expensive, therefore, drives will cost decent money.
Now you can compare Intel SSDs with each other. So, the P4800X model has 750 gigabytes of memory and a connection via the 2.5 interface. The disc was released in the fourth quarter of 2017.
When operating in active mode, it consumes up to 18 watts, and in passive time, power consumption is 6 watts. It can work at a temperature of 70 degrees Celsius, and it is better not to cross this threshold. The manufacturer guarantees five years of uptime, after which the warranty expires. Further, the disk may continue to work for an indefinite period.
By encryption, you can add that it is 256-bit, and this ensures data integrity during magnetic and virus attacks. The unique Memory Drive technology provides low latency and high reliability of this manufacturer's SSD. It is this technology that makes it clear to the system that the disk must be recognized as DRAM, without taking up much time.
Another technology found only in drives from this manufacturer is called Optane. It helps eliminate bottlenecks through advanced memory that is inexpensive, fast, and volatile. None of the companies have even close similar analogues, which makes the comparison of SSD controllers of this brand unique.
However, the price segment is very confusing for many users, since such a disk can be purchased for no less than 200 thousand rubles.
Another representative, who has a similar amount of memory, also appeared at the end of 2017. The first visible difference from the previous option is the connection method. This solid-state drive works through the PCI-E interface and has a smaller size.
The delay, write speed, read speed, encryption bit quality and guarantee are absolutely the same as the previous version.
So the company, known worldwide for its high-quality processors, has become one of the successful representatives of SSD suppliers.
Conclusion
Many users are confused when it comes to choosing a repository.
To begin with, it is worth deciding on a price category. If the budget is limited, and the drive is needed with a large amount of memory, then the choice will fall on hard drives. If the price does not matter, then you can choose a solid state drive.
After that, there is a debate about quality and speed. Of course, the presence of moving parts and design features make hard drives the most vulnerable to physical damage, so they are not suitable for work in extreme conditions. Another thing is SSD. There are no mechanical parts at all, which allows you to work with portable devices anywhere and in any weather.
As for speed qualities, the winner is obvious - SSD. Yes, conventional drives can only half what a solid-state machine can do, so it surpasses all opponents in every way. A SAS disk is considered universal, which perfectly copes with both low-level data and high-speed data.
Another important selection criterion is the purpose. An SSD is ideal for running demanding and capacious data, as well as for storing an operating system on it. To store long-term files, such as movies and music, a mechanical drive will become a win-win option, since it is inexpensive, and for such operations fast loading is not needed. If the server hardware is being assembled, then the user should look towards the SAS, which was created for working with servers. The only drawback is the small amount of memory with a universal approach to information processing.
Now a bit of operation:
- For the hard drive to function properly, it is recommended that you periodically perform an operation to defragment it.
- Do not conduct software experiments if there is no proper experience with the utilities.
- To recover deleted data or information from a faulty storage, you should use licensed versions of the programs, as they really can help solve the problem. The fact is that on the Internet there is a chance to download a virus-infected program that will finally ruin the disk.
- All SSDs have their own life, which has now reached a record high of eight years. This is due to the limited number of rewriting cycles. Therefore, it is wise to approach all downloads and data deletion.
- When connecting an SSD, it is not always displayed in the operating system or BIOS. In order to fix this, there are a number of programs that help identify the problem. This usually happens if there are hidden sectors, the volume letter is not assigned, or the disk is simply not formatted. In this case, you need to format it by choosing the appropriate data storage format.
These were user tips for advanced users. For beginners, who will first encounter problems associated with the operation of a drive of any kind, it is worth using the services of computer specialists. For a fee, you can find out about the problems and how to solve them.