SSD or HDD: Tips for choosing the right storage for your PC

Choosing between SSD or HD to mount a PC or perform an upgrade can be a bit tricky for some users. Brands such as Kingston, SanDisk, and Western Digital offer several options for both technologies. The SSD is fast for both system startup and application opening, but its higher price and smaller size options may leave the traditional hard drive with a certain advantage.

However, hard drives have a higher risk of physical damage and may slow down over time. With that in mind, Techidence has put together 6 tips that will help you choose the right type of storage for your computer.

1. Decide the type of use

HD

The first step before deciding which storage to install on the PC is important to know the type of use the machine will have. For many users looking for high-performance multitasking and running heavier programs, the SSD will work better due to the high speed. Nevertheless, the price per GB (gigabyte) is much higher.

In this case, the need for more space to save photos, and videos, or install many games, having an HD can be more interesting. The hard disk is even more important and appears in higher-capacity options. It is worth mentioning that the performance of the PC will not be the same, besides the lower durability.

If it is indispensable to give up speed or space for files, the user can also look for solutions such as an external HD for larger files or even have a hybrid machine. This way, the SSD can be dedicated to the installation of the operating system and more used programs, guaranteeing a computer with good fluidity and higher capacity storage.

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2. Set a price limit

Another important tip is to set a price limit. This is because by delimiting a value, you can more easily filter out which options become feasible or not. While a 512 GB SSD can be purchased at an average price of $120, an HD, with double the storage capacity, is sold in the Brazilian market at a price in the range of $64.

However, it is also possible to analyze what type of SSD you wish to equip your machine with, as some SSDs are more expensive than others. Older options are cheaper than current ones, such as the M.2 and PCIe models. Also, some SATA III-type SSDs are not much more expensive than traditional hard drives and may be worth it.

3. Choose a size option

Keeping in mind the type of computer used, you need to set the required storage size. This way you avoid problems such as buying a low-space drive, having to buy another component in the future, or even a model beyond what is necessary and that has many GBs left over.

Also, if you need more storage, the recommendation is to buy more drives, preventing all important data and files from being on a single hard drive or SSD. If one of the components fails, there is less risk of losing the data.

4. Consider technologies and compatibility

Before finalizing your purchase, check the compatibility of the system with the unit in question. Especially for notebooks, the devices may not be compatible with all SSDs on the market. Devices manufactured in the last decade must have, without exception, support for 2.5-inch drives via SATA ports, for example.

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It is also worth noting that this compatibility applies to both cases, but it is possible that your notebook also has M.2 ports with SATA technology and which allows the use of smaller SSDs physically, but with the same internal space capabilities. However, there is still no software method that is reliable to verify the existence of an M.2 slot in your device. The only way to find out if the machine has the interface is to open the computer to check the motherboard, which requires more knowledge of the subject.

5. Is it worth using both?

The answer is yes. Having a mixed system is ideal for the user who wants high speed and good storage capacity without having to spend a lot on it. If the focus is on higher performance, it is important to install the operating system on the SSD as it has higher read and write speeds. This way, not only will boot be faster but other tasks as well.

Keeping large files and backups of photos, videos, and music on HD is also interesting, as well as less used programs. The games can also be installed on the conventional hard disk because the SSD does not offer improvements in graphics performance, leaving only faster loading. In these cases, it is interesting to take advantage of the HD space and save space of the other disk.

6. What options are available?

In the market, some SSD storage options are more common than others. Brands such as SanDisk and Kingston, which also includes HyperX, have different drive types and sizes up to 1 TB. Simpler and more basic versions, with 120 GB capacity, such as the Kingston A400, are on sale on Amazon with prices as low as $28.96. Also, more complete storage options, such as the Kingston KC600, with 512 GB, can be found at an average price of $75.41.

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About the HDs, the prices are lower. In retail, Seagate is one of the brands that have more hard drives for sale. A 1 TB drive, for example, is priced in the range of $89.49, while the component with 2 TB of storage is available for approximately $95.99.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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