SSD, HDD, hard drive...
How to choose?

1- HDD / SSD, what's the difference?

Difficult to find your way around all those complicated abbreviations? No worries, you just need to learn. Be careful, it will go very fast ;)

Two storage systems, two meanings:

•    The hard drive is also called "HDD", which stands for "Hard Disk Drive". A hard drive and an HDD are therefore the same thing!
•    The SSD has no other name and stands for "Solid State Drive".

Well, yes, okay... but then what?

Introductions done, we can now look at the difference between their uses. Because yes, both are used to store your data... but not only! 

• A hard drive/disk is said to be "mechanical", using magnetic disks to operate. Except its advanced age (it was created at the end of the 1970s), it is still ideal for storing very large volumes at a lower cost. It is also said to be more durable than SSDs, although the latter is more reliable. So it's not really this element that will tip the balance...
   
• An SSD uses "flash" memory, embedded in a small electronic chip. In practice, this means that it is quieter than an HDD, and this also means that there are fewer small mechanical parts that can break. But the real interest is in its performance: much faster, it allows to accelerate the use of your PC. It can also be much smaller and thinner, but on the other hand, it is also more expensive...

So which one should I choose?

In fact, it's very simple to decide: if you want to store "simple" data, i.e. videos, photos, excel files, etc., then the hard drive will be more than enough. You will be able to store all your beloved memories at a lower cost, and you can even secure them with a NAS to avoid untimely deletion. The SSD, on the other hand, is mainly used for "hot" data: this is where you install your software and applications, your OS (Windows?) of course, so that it can be accelerated as much as possible! The 1 second boot time? Yes, that's thanks (among other things) to your SSD! 

Attention: one does not prevent the other! Most PCs have both: an SSD for all the software, an HDD for pure storage. What if this was your solution?

2- I know what I want... but how to choose?!

You've made up your mind, or you have a slight idea of what you prefer, but you wonder if you'll easily find the perfect storage? The computing world may seem obscure, but it's actually quite easy to find your way around: reading speed, technology, internal or external... a few "little" tips that will definitely decide on your final choice.

I want a hard drive!

• Format
  You can choose between a 3.5-inch or a 2.5-inch. The 2.5",smaller, is often reserved for laptops, but it can also be a good lightweight, quiet and reliable alternative in a small hard drive enclosure that you can take anywhere!
   
• Capacity
  This is of course logical, but you have to decide on the size you want. From a small 500 MB to a huge 16 TB, the differences are huge! Of course, the more bytes, the more you can store (a good  2 TB is already quite sufficient for a movies stock).  Beware, however, that the capacity indicated is rarely the real capacity you can use. These clever manufacturers have their own way of calculating...
   
• Speed
  Often suggested in 5400 RPM (called "green") ou en 7200 RPM (or more), this measure indicates the rotation speed of the disks, and therefore the file reading speed. Of course, the higher it is, the better it is... but sometimes it's also noisier!
   
• Technologies
  PMR, SMR, TDMR... All strange names that seem to be quite unclear. They are in fact recording technologies that allow you to optimise the size and/or speed of the playback. No need to go into details: these technologies are to be chosen according to your needs/preferences but remain rather unessential to understand if you don't know much about them. Do not hesitate to refer to the online product sheet of your favourite HDD that will provide you with all the information!
   
• Cache size
  The cache memory is not very famous, and yet it allows you to store the data "in read" of your PC. To keep it simple: the more cache memory there is, the smoother your reading will be and the better your PC will perform. Of course, everything has its limits... but you'd better get a  32 MB for an ideal use.
   
• RAID fonction  
  Hard disks (and SSDs) can be linked together in what is called a RAID (Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disk). This allows you to optimise their size, speed or even security, allowing you to add up their speed, or their space, or even to double the files in case one HDD fails. In short, having several disks is never useless!

I want an SSD !

• Format
  Like the hard drive, the SSD can have several formats, and can be used internally as well as externally (i.e. to take everywhere). Some models are very thin (mSATA), so they can be easily inserted into a laptop, but most are 2.5". Make sure you know how to connect them: USB, PCIe, SATA or M.2 to avoid being caught off guard.
   
• Technologies and reading speeds
  When it comes to connections, technology is a must. Before choosing your capacity, the technology used will make a big difference: either your SSD will be SATA (and this is already not so bad compared to the reading speed of a hard disk, we are talking about 550 MB/s in reading and 520 MB/s in maximum writing), or it will be NVMe... And there, no more speed limits (for a maximum reading speed of 5000 MB/sec!!!). For those ones, the ideal is to have an M.2 slot on your motherboard, even if there are PCIe expansion cards.
   
• Capacity
  SSD's have a much lower storage capacity, and the price of SSD's goes up very quickly. So a 250GB will be enough for a "normal" use and without a large storage on it. Of course, the more you take, the more you're safe!

3 - And what about the others?

Of course, SSDs and HDDs aren't the only storage systems (and thankfully so). There is now a whole range of tools at your service to really suit your storage needs: to take away with you, to secure, to connect everywhere...

Here is a quick overview of other means that are more commonly used:

• External hard drives:  don't forget, an SSD or a hard drive can also be used "in take-away" thanks to enclosures that protect them effectively. This makes it possible to have an efficient storage unit that is sometimes much larger than a simple USB key...

• USB flash drives: inevitably famous, you have undoubtedly already used them! Commonly used for troubleshooting, make sure you choose them according to their transfer rate!
   
• NAS /DAS servers: these large boxes can be used to link several SSDs/HDDs together in order to optimise their capacities (RAID) and transform them into multimedia servers, etc.
   
• Memory cards: more easily found in your cameras or smartphones, SD, micro SD, Compact Flash cards allow you to store your images for a very limited weight.
   
• Les CD/DVD/Blu-Ray: alright, we're starting to forget about them more and more... but they're still an easy and cheap way to share files, especially in public services.
   
• Cloud servers: increasingly affordable and connection from anywhere, cloud servers are also a storage solution. Sometimes criticized for their security and limited by your internet connection, they are still a good solution if a subscription system suits you.

Store my favourite movies!

Then your decision is made: you have to get a HDD (hard drive)! SSD's are not suitable (too expensive for such use), whereas with a HDD you will not be limited!  2 or 3 TB will normally be more than enough for your multimedia storage, and you have time to see it through. Prefer a 7200 RPM for a better fluidity... and why not a hard drive enclosure or a NAS to create a multimedia server at 3 steps from your TV?

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Use my PC from time to time

Do you regularly turn your PC off and on? Then don't overthink any longer: install an SSD for your operating system (Windows, OS X, Linux). You don't need to get a very big one... and you can save money while optimising your computer. And if you really have other small files to save, get a small HDD besides an SSD.

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Play without any struggles!

Installing your game on an SSD, especially one as fast as  NVMe, will ensure lightning-fast latency. The biggest gamers who aim on the extra second fraction know that the use of this technology for a performance gain down to the millimetre. But beware: games are getting heavier and heavier, and the price of a large storage SSD is not cheap. If you really play a lot of games, plan ahead!

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SSDs under 100€:

SSDs over 100 €:

HDDs under 100 €:

HDDs over 100 €:

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