I have already published some articles discussing the benefits of SSDs for gaming and other things. But if you want to know whether SSD will improve your growing or not, this article is for you.
I have recently installed a new Crucial MX500 in my i3 Laptop with 4 GB RAM, I can’t expect much from this system but it was not able to work perfectly with some Google Chrome tabs opened. But, just upgrading its storage from 5200 RPM HDD to a 500 GB SSD has given me lots of benefits related to the browsing.
First of all, the system never takes a lot of time to open up any browser. Whether it is Google Chrome, Firefox, Mozilla, or Safari, every browser will load faster because SSDs never delay the delivery of files that are required while the startup.
What does an SSD do with regard to browsing?
In contrast to an HDD, the read/write times are greatly shortened by the SSD. You have to note a gap in access times, which can exceed as many as ten and even more, relative to equally priced SSD and HDDs. In terms of performance, the cheapest SSD you can get possibly beats performance-orientated HDD.
On the other hand, the SSD also uses up less CPU power, leaving the CPU free for other operations than an HDD. So, with the SSD-powered system, you might see an overall improvement in performance beyond the faster boot time as well.
But, what happens to the browsing performance when we switch to an SSD?
Well, we can never say that upgrading to an SSD will improve your browsing performance if RAM or processor is the main problem. However, SSD will start showing its benefits from the first day. These results will be faster OS and browser loading.
So, when you double-click your browser to open it, you do not have to wait for long once you have installed an SSD on your system. Also, Windows computers show another error known as Not Responding. This error will also be solved with an SSD.
Think like this.
When you open your browser (or any other software), it demands certain files which are stored on the hard disk. Now, the next step of the hard disk is to find and retrieve this information. The disk should be rotated in order to get that information. Now, fetching all the files from that magnetic disk is almost a physical task that takes some seconds to happen.
Till that time, your software can do nothing. That’s why it lags. Now, with an SSD, this file retrieving time will come to some milliseconds or microseconds. So, your program will fire up just after you give the open command to it. Also, all the problems related to the raw data storage and reception will become more than 2x faster.
Can I open unlimited browser tabs after upgrading to SSD?
Yes. You will see some differences in this domain as well because Chrome uses your storage space (HDD or SSD) for storing cache. So, it gets some important files from there instead of loading them from the internet. So, if you have an SSD as your storage at least for Chrome, you will see some benefits for sure.
But, handling the tab data in real-time is the task of your RAM so you should think about updating it as well with your SSD. This will be required if you are a hardcore internet browser or a professional. Otherwise, Chrome demands very little memory.
Google Chrome is a very refined software. It uses very little RAM and other resources as compared to any other browser in this market. So, if you are seeing lags and hands, the RAM can be the issue although it can work just well with even 2 GB of RAM (the RAM clock frequency can make a big difference here. If it’s low, you can see lags).
But, a slow HDD can slow its speed. So, if you good amount of RAM with at least 1000 MHz clocking frequency along with a decent processor, your storage can be the issue. Another thing to remember here is that all your software and games will become slower. If only Chrome has become slow, try doing some internal optimizations to it.
But, I can’t afford an SSD because its expensive
Gone are the days when SSDs were expensive. Now, you can easily afford a 500 GB SSD at the same price you will buy a 1 TB HDD. There is still a price difference but it always justified.
Whether you want an SATA 2.5 or NVME PCIe SSD, getting a 1 TB variant at around 100$ is normal these days.
See the prices of these amazing SSDs on Amazon for example.
First Example:
Crucial BX500 is available for just 89.99 dollars on Amazon. SSDs from most of the popular companies like WD and Samsung can be bought at the similar price range.
Example 2:
Do you think NVMe PCIe SSDs are out of your budget? Although a 500 GB NVMe will be enough to boost any normal system with some basic storage requirements, a 1TB variant is not very costly these days. Check the price of Crucial P1 1TB SSD NVMe SSD. It is available just for 104.99.
First of all, even if you are installing a 2.5″ SATA SSD on your system, it is going to give you more than double read/write SSD from a traditional HDD. I am not denying the fact that the HDDs with good RPM can also deliver good speeds but then the price difference between SSD and them may become much more shorter.
So, if you are still thinking that SSDs are expensive and they are worthless in terms of performance, just visit Amazon and see their prices. You can also refer to this page to see the speed of any SSD out there.
So, SSDs are not expensive now but the main reason why we are not buying them is that we do not have trust on this technology. We feel good with our HDDs because they do our work. Now, that’s good if you are normal user. But, if you want to get the most out of your system, going for SSD should be your definite plan.
There is a growing trend of using HDD+SSD combo for having both speed and storage capacity at the same time. So, you can keep your HDD for raw data storage and SSD for OS and software installations for the best results.
Which SSD should I choose?
Everything depends on your budget and your needs. Only use an SSD 2.5″ from Samsung, Crucial, or some other business if you want to speed up your PC.
If money is not the problem, you can try getting an M.2 NVMe drive if you have got an M.2 slot on your motherboard. These are PCIe SSDs that look like a small, long, flat RAM module that you attach to the m2-slot and twist on the other end. These have higher read/ write speeds than a typical SATA SSD since they directly connect to a cable-free PCIe based slot.
Make sure to buy the M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD only if your motherboard supports it. You can also buy an M.2 SATA SSD which will offer the same 600MB/s speed just as a normal 2.5″ SATA SSD. You can read this article to choose between M.2 SATA and M.2 NVMe drive.
If you want peak speeds, seek the NVMe SSD and link it with an M.2 PCIe connector. Much more expensive. However, since the NVMe protocol is implemented, they deliver speeds greater than M.2 using SATA.
SATA 2.5″ SSD – Costs less, can get more storage (Max speed up to 600 MB/s)
m.2 SATA SSD – Expensive but has same speed as SATA SSD (Has a smaller form factor)
M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD – The most expensive option also has the best read/write speeds. (Require PCI Express support from motherboard)
Read this article for more: HDD vs SSD vs SSHD: Which one should you buy?
What is the difference between an HDD and an SSD?
When selecting the right way to update a computer or a laptop, it is crucial to make an educated decision. Six of the major distinctions between a regular hard disk and a solid-state drive are the following:
- The SSD has no movable elements, such as an HDD, meaning it is quieter and typically lasts longer.
- SSD requires nearly half less power to work than an HDD.
- SSDs are more costly than HDDs, although costs slowly fall, as are usual for technology.
- The SSD capacities are usually smaller than those of HDD. The SDDs are generally no bigger than 1TB for notebook and 4TB for desktop compared to a limit of 2TB for notebook and a maximum of 10TB for desktops.
- SSD speed is quicker than HDD for both the boot time and the open file speed. This happens because SSDs use Flash Storage for the same but HDDs use rotating disks for the same
- SSD’s life starts to end from the time you start to use them. However, HDDs have longer life spans in general.
But what are the advantages if you upgrade your drive to a solid-state drive? Here are many reasons why these storage devices are so common over the last few years.
Other advantages of using an SSD
- Fast OS loading
Do you hate when your system takes one or two minute to load up? Yes, we all do. This is the first problem which an SSD will solve. Also, when your system is loaded, you will be able to start using any browser or software program right away.
Note: You should never expect that your software will perform better just because you have installed an SSD. This is the job of your RAM and its clock frequency. When we say SSD will speed up your system operation, it means that the speed of loading will improve. Also, if your HDD has become older and slow, SSD will provide you its benefits there as well.
- Life Expectancy
SSD can be predicted to last two to three times more than HDD. They are normally shock and wear-resistant since they do not have any moving parts to wear or get damaged. However SSDs can easily be beaten by HDDs when it comes to the total read/write capacity. NAND cells used in SSDs can write less data as compared to the HDD drives. But, only very high storage usage can reach at those limits.
- Quieter and Cooler
Have you ever learned about the computer been “thinking”? That hard disk sound that whirls around is not going to be with an SSD. No moveable elements mean zero noise. They also dissipate less heat than HDD, and heat will adversely affect machine performance, which is why less heat is better.
- Less Power Hungry
Your laptop’s battery life will be better with SSD because they consume less power than mechanical hard drives. This means when you are travelling, you will have more time before needing to find that one open power outlet. The battery life of your laptop would be improved because SSD consumes less power than mechanical hard disks. That means when you drive before you have to locate the one accessible power source, you will have more time.
- Smaller Footprint
Solid-state drives are smaller than HDDs, making them versatile and ideal for all manner of modern applications. This is why you will always view the hybrid tablet/laptop computers to have even less computing capacity than a mechanical hard disk.
- Resistant to Voltage Fluctuations
In the event of a voltage drop, SSDs have an optimized power loss circuit for data backup. The ability to track and compensate for voltage fluctuations makes it easier to save the record in just two hours when you can lose part of it on a hard disk and suffer a decrease in voltage.
Certain SSDs also have batteries that can back up the data in case of power loss.
Conclusion
Regardless of how much RAM you have on your PC, files are still cached on a local disc when surfing (unless you specifically configured your browser not to). These cached files are used for accessing the previous websites.
With SSD, you get advantages of caching fast access and low latency, so the surfing experience is smoother with SSD! But now, standard HDDs give you enough speed to access the cached data, which you barely know. A sluggish machine can be an annoyance, rebooting and time-wasting for hours. If an update to SSD is exactly what you need, why do you struggle?
