Ladies and gentlemen welcome to the battle of the millennia! SSD or HDD: which is best for teachers?
In this corner, the traditional and legendary storage technology that uses spinning disks to read and write data and is the current world standard for data storage and is always at the budget range, the Hard Disk Drive a.k.a. The HDD.
And in this corner, the upcoming new age for storage technology which is faster, more efficient, dubbed as the storage of tomorrow, but can be a bit higher on the price range—the Solid-State Drive a.k.a. The SSD.
Are you ready? Then let’s get ready to rumble!
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SSD or HDD: Which is best for teachers?
An SSD and an HDD serve the same purpose of providing storage for all different kinds of files, They are usually installed in computers and laptops, but they can also be used physically as a portable external storage device that you can bring with you on the go.
Both of them are undeniably vital for any computer or laptop to operate, but what’s the main difference between the two? and what are they used for and who are they for?
And most importantly, which one is the best type of storage for teachers?
Before we go ahead and answer those questions, let’s first go ahead and define the two.
HDD (Hard Disk Drive)
An HDD is also known as a Hard Drive or a Fixed Drive that is a data storage device that has been the typical type of storage device used on most computers and laptops up to date.
The reason why it’s named HDD is because of its main internal component which is a moving disk where all the data is being read to and transferred to, and it is also noticeably larger in size compared to an SDD.
It uses a magnetic storage system that has spinning disks and has a couple of arms equipped with heads also called transducers that communicate with the disk to read and write data.
Both the arms and the heads are responsible for communicating with the platter of the disk to access different types of data stored in the HDD.
They are also considered as a legacy technology as they’ve been around ever since computers became mainstream, and HDDs are also still favorable to most consumers because of their reasonable price point compared to SSDs.
SSD (Solid-State Drive)
Same as the HDD, an SSD is a type of storage device used in computers in laptops but does not have any moving parts inside it—hence the name solid-state. It uses an integrated circuit system which makes it possible to be as silent as possible when being used compared to HDDs.
Another factor that makes SSDs ahead of the game is their ability to physically cut down in size almost as small as a USB flash drive which is due to them not requiring any moving parts to operate. This then makes them ideal for slimmer and sleeker laptops, convertibles, and even on 2-in-1 devices.
Additionally, SSDs can provide dramatically reduce access time as there’s no warm-up time for the platter in HDDs to start up. Notably, SSDs are much more expensive compared to HDDs as they can go triple to quadruple in price compared to regular HDDs.
Round 1: Speed
The speed of an HDD or SSD is measure by how fast they can read and write data by Mbps (megabytes per second).
When it comes to speed, the majority of votes go to SSDs. As a newer technology in the game, SSDs have the upper hand in the game of speed and this is due to them not having spinning disks or any moving parts at all.
Compared to HDDs depending on the RPM or revolutions per minute a certain drive that is capable of SSD is not in need of warm-up as it solely depends on the technology integrated into it and the data connection of the drive itself.
An average HDD has the capability of 5,400 RPM up to 7,200 RPM and most 5,400 RPM HDDs can provide a speed of 100mbps speed transfer while modern HDDs rated at 7,200 RPM will garner a speed of 150mbps.
An SSD on the other hand has read and transfer speeds from 550mbps up to 600mpbs depending on the kind of SSD that you have. SSDs are really ahead speed-wise.
So it’s safe to say that SSDs win this round and if speed is on top of your storage needs which is a must especially if you’re handling large files and programs, SSDs are no doubt the option for you.
Round 2: Capacity
The next important thing that we should determine is Capacity. And the leading case for this round would be the HDD.
HDD can range from 40GB up to 12TB but that’s for commercial use only, for business use there can be higher storage capacity depending on business needs. Most people will go for 1TB to 2TB HDDs as this can already offer ample space for storing a number of files from documents to videos, and a few programs as well.
HDDs are great for backups, making external hard drives a popular choice for many especially if storage on their main laptop or computer is running low.
It’s also best if you can have a couple of HDDs since they are more affordable compared to SSDs just in case one decides to go loco then you would still have another one at bay and you will not lose everything which is something that we certainly do not want to happen.
So ideally HDDs are good for storing casual files like photos, videos, and other sorts of files that are not really crucial for your job or the work that you do.
But still, they’re pretty reliable for storing data and important files from your work too, you just have to take extra precautions and we will be talking more about that in a minute.
Now for SSDs, they weren’t really able to provide much storage back then but due to innovations and advancements in technology, they can now offer storage capacities in large TB as well.
But keep in mind that as the capacity goes up, it comes with a pretty hefty price tag as well. It’s best to opt for smaller storage capacity for SSDs to store only the most and I really mean most important files that you need to stay safe, secured, and accessible at all cost.
It’s also good to know that SSDs are built for speed and not capacity, so weigh your wants and need and think whether you need speed for your important files and programs or space for archiving files.
Round 3: Durability
Both HDDs and SSDs are an investment of sorts because they are for long-term use, and for teachers who might not have the extra budget to spare, it is a must for you to know whether the storage device that you are purchasing is an effective use of your money.
In terms of durability, I’ll be honest, SSDs are the way to go as they store data in cells with no need for moving parts to access them.
No moving parts mean fewer problems to none at all, it is also much more lightweight and is smaller in size compared to an HDD making it more resistant to shock or any external force that can cause it to malfunction in any way.
Another thing about HDDs is that they have a wear and tear period, having moving parts just like any other mechanical device means that there will come a time that those parts will eventually wear out. Not really any time soon, but it will happen depending on how well you will keep an HDD.
As external storage, determine if a shock can be an everyday occurrence as accidents are inevitable. And if it is, definitely stay away from an HDD as they can be really sensitive to falling from certain heights or receiving external force that can cause its internal parts to malfunction.
Because when you start hearing clicking noises that’s already a warning sign that an HDD might falter or have faltered already. I learned it the hard way when I accidentally dropped my 5TB external HDD, I wasn’t able to recover the files which meant I had to say goodbye to my files forever as it was beyond repair.
Round 4: Price point
Another factor to consider when deciding whether to go for an HDD or an SDD is pricepoint if your on a budget HDDs are your best option but if you do have a few extra bucks to spare then SDDs is a solid option too.
And in terms of reliability, since there are indeed no moving parts in SSDs you’ll be sure that even when small accidents happen your files will be safe and secured. But if it is mass storage that you are going for, HDDs will work wonders for you and you can get them at a much affordable price too that you can even buy a second one for backups.
For HDDs, at 500GB you’ll be seeing prices from $25.00 up to $50.00 depending on the brand, whereas SSDs at 500GB will be priced around $60.00 to $150.00. So there’s definitely a huge price gap per GB between HDDs and SSDs.
Final Round: Other Considerations
Speed, capacity, durability, and price point are only 4 of the key factors that will help you which one to get. A few factors to add to your list are:
Power consumption – when it comes to power usage SSDs are more efficient and consume less power compared to an HDD since it does have no moving parts that need additional power to operate.
This means that if you’re using an SSD for your laptop it will give way for longer battery life and that means less plug-in time and more work done since the data is accessed faster and the device is idle for most of the time as well.
Noise – This might not be that important to you, but if little details bother you you might want to look into this one. Keep in mind that HDDs use The more power an HDD use the more noise it will make as well, even high-end ones do emit minimal noise as well.
SSDs, on the other hand, is silent as a lamb since it does not require any moving parts to operate, but still, this is just a minor detail but worth looking into as well.
Life Span – as I have mentioned before, HDDs have wear and tear period as it is a mechanical device.
And surprisingly SDDs have their limits as to how many times you can write and rewrite data on their cells, you can check in with the manufacturer first before you make the buy or check out tools that can help you determine the longevity of the SSD that you have your eye on.
Takeaways
- SSDs are more reliable in terms of speed and durability
- If mass storage is your priority, HDDs are your best bet
- Both are used for storing data and the main difference is the type of technology they use in order to retrieve and store data
- HDDs are great for general users and casual storage of a large number of photos, videos, and other files of sorts
- If budget is a concern, HDDs can provide a larger capacity compared to SSD at a fair price point
- If file security is a top concern, definitely opt for an SSD as it is more resistant to everyday bumps and grinds
The Lowdown…
Now that we’ve figured out what the SSD and HDD have to offer, it is now time for you to analyze and let your needs dictate which storage device is the right one for you because to each his own right?
Some teachers might need the speed reliability and durability of an SDD; while some teachers might go for more storage capacity and affordability. It all boils down to your personal preference and needs.
In my own opinion, I would definitely go for the SSD especially if you want to make sure that you get the most out of your purchase and if you want a good night’s sleep and not to worry about all your important files in the long run.
If you’re torn between the two, why not get the best of both worlds? If you really can’t decide which one to get you can opt for a smaller SSD to store your most vital files like your OS, program files, and apps, and you can also get another HDD for your casual files.
I hope this short piece helped you make a confident decision on which one’s best for you! And if it did, I’d be happy to read your thoughts and comment down below!
Until our next one!
