SSD VS HDD

SSD(SOLID STATE DRIVE)

INTRODUCTION

To gain a full understanding of solid state drives (SSDs), one must be knowledgeable of the current generation of platter based drives. 

Flash-memory-based SSDs can offer much faster random access to data and faster transfer rates.Moreover, SSD’s capacity is now at the point where solid state

SSDs mirror the functionality of the existing standard of hard disk drives (HDDs).

                 HOW A SSD OPERATES

 • Unlike a HDD, solid state drives do not contain and solid mechanical moving parts.

 • This makes SDD more reliable in regards to mechanical failure. 

 • The host computer sends data to the SSD controller which then decides how to write the data to the NAND memory. This is done similar to RAID, as the controller writes to multiple NAND chips at once.

                       ADVANTAGES OF SSD

The solid-state drive (SSD) is another storage solution and is slowly replacing the majority of hard disk drives. As you'll learn by reading the following comparison table, the SSD is a clear winner. However, due to its price per unit of memory, it doesn't make sense to use SSDs in all instances. 

For most computer users, we recommend using an SSD as the primary drive for your operating system, as well as the programs you access most frequently. Then, we suggest purchasing a large HDD (either internal or external) for storing documents, pictures, and music.

As the costs have come down, SSDs have become suitable replacements for a standard hard drive in both desktop and laptop computers. SSDs are also a great solution for netbooks, nettops, and other applications that don't require a lot of storage.

         WHAT KIND OF CONNECTION DO SSDs UTILIZE

SSDs primarily use the SATA connection which has a theoretical maximum transfer rate of 750 MB per second. However, a newer generation of SSDs is emerging that utilize a PCIe connection, offering speeds of up to 1.5 GB per second.

              
                       SSD Architecture 

SSDs contain a number of NAND flash components – 10 to upwards of 60 or 70.

                                         

                                         

                                  Controller 

 Takes the raw data storage in the NAND flash and makes it   look and act like hard disk   drive

 Contains the micro controller, buffer, error correction, and   flash interface modules.

                       

                      

                  HDD(HARD DISK DRIVE)

                 

                               INTRODUCTION

A hard disk drive (HDD) is a non-volatile computer storage device containing magnetic disks or platters rotating at high speeds. It is a secondary storage device used to store data permanently, random access memory (RAM) being the primary memory device. Non-volatile means data is retained when the computer is turned off.

A hard disk drive is also known as a hard drive. 

                  HOW A DRIVE WORKS

In your computer's hard drive, there aren't really any iron nails. There's just a large shiny, circular "plate" of magnetic material called a platter, divided into billions of tiny areas. Each one of those areas can be independently magnetized (to store a 1) or demagnetized (to store a 0). 

Magnetism is used in computer storage because it goes on storing information even when the power is switched off. If you magnetize a nail, it stays magnetized until you demagnetize it.

 In much the same way, the computerized information (or data) stored in your PC hard drive or iPod stays there even when you switch the power off.

             SSD AND HDD COMPARISON

Now it’s time to do some comparisons and determine which might be best for your individual needs - SSD or HDD?  The best way to compare items is a table with a side by side comparison of items in which a green box indicates an advantage:

Attribute	SSD (Solid State Drive)	HDD (Hard Disk Drive)
Power Draw / Battery Life	Less power draw, averages 2 – 3 watts, resulting in 30+ minute battery boost	More power draw, averages 6 – 7 watts and therefore uses more battery
Cost	Expensive, roughly $0.20 per gigabyte (based on buying a 1TB drive)	Only around $0.03 per gigabyte, very cheap (buying a 4TB model)
Capacity	Typically not larger than 1TB for notebook size drives; 4TB max for desktops	Typically around 500GB and 2TB maximum for notebook size drives; 10TB max for desktops
Operating System Boot Time	Around 10-13 seconds average bootup time	Around 30-40 seconds average bootup time
Noise	There are no moving parts and as such no sound	Audible clicks and spinning can be heard
Vibration	No vibration as there are no moving parts	The spinning of the platters can sometimes result in vibration
Heat Produced	Lower power draw and no moving parts so little heat is produced	HDD doesn’t produce much heat, but it will have a measurable amount more heat than an SSD due to moving parts and higher power draw
Failure Rate	Mean time between failure rate of 2.0 million hours	Mean time between failure rate of 1.5 million hours
File Copy / Write Speed	Generally above 200 MB/s and up to 550 MB/s for cutting edge drives	The range can be anywhere from 50 – 120MB / s
Encryption	Full Disk Encryption (FDE) Supported on some models	Full Disk Encryption (FDE) Supported on some models
File Opening Speed	Up to 30% faster than HDD	Slower than SSD
Magnetism Affected?	An SSD is safe from any effects of magnetism	Magnets can erase data

                  

                       PERFORMANCE   

The main benefit of an SSD over an HDD — and the reason why so many people live by the SSD once they make the switch — is the fact that SSDs are significantly faster. With SSDs, computers boot up in seconds, programs launch almost instantaneously, and files are transfers up to 10 times faster.