SSD vs HDD: Which Storage Should You Choose?
Solid-state drives (SSDs) and hard disk drives (HDDs) both store your files, but they work very differently. Here is how to choose.
Speed
An SSD has no moving parts and loads the operating system, games and large files far faster than an HDD. Even a basic SATA SSD is many times faster than a hard drive in everyday use. NVMe SSDs, which connect over PCIe, are faster again.
Capacity and price per terabyte
HDDs still cost less per terabyte, which makes them a sensible choice for bulk storage such as media libraries and backups. SSDs cost more per terabyte but have become common in 1 TB to 4 TB sizes.
Durability and noise
Because an SSD has no spinning platters, it is silent and better tolerates knocks, which matters in laptops. HDDs can be damaged by drops while running.
NVMe, SATA and PCIe generations
SATA SSDs use the older SATA interface. NVMe drives use the M.2 slot and PCIe lanes; a PCIe 4.0 drive is faster than PCIe 3.0, and PCIe 5.0 is faster still. Check that your motherboard or laptop supports the generation and the M.2 size before buying, since a faster drive will run at the speed your system allows.
Which should you buy?
- Main drive for Windows, apps and games: an NVMe SSD.
- Budget upgrade for an older PC: a SATA SSD.
- Large archive or backups: an HDD, ideally alongside an SSD.
Browse PC components for internal drives.