There are two main types of computer storage devices. HDD and SSD.
Hard Drives (HDDs) consists of rotating magnetic disks along with a read/write head to read or write data. Whereas, SSDs are completely different. They consist of non-moving parts especially the memory chips.
SSDs become much more reliable and fast just because of that. But, if you have ever been shopping for one, you may have noticed that SSDs are almost twice as much expensive as hard drives.
Most of the time, you can easily purchase a 1 TB Hard Disk for the same price you would get a 480 GB SSD.
But, because SSDs are very fast as compared to Hard Drives, you can surely expect great results in computer performance. See another article, I have written on SSD’s impact on gaming performance.
But, if you are curious to know why SSDs are expensive and whether they are worth these price tags, we are going to discuss everything in this article.
Believe me, there are good reasons for that. Let’s discuss all these things below.
5 Reasons why SSDs cost more than Hard Drives
1. New technology
If the technology is new, it is still seen as an improvement over the old. There is no doubt that SSDs have influenced the world of computer storage. It’s fresh, and the fact that most people aren’t using it yet definitely increases the price paid for this technology.
Over the years, we have grown accustomed to hard drives (HDDs) in conventional computers.
Sure, the job is done, but technically there is still room for improvement.
SSDs completely replace these traditional mechanical hard drives. SSDs work with flash memory. Flash memory is much faster and lightweight than conventional robotic arms used for hard drives.
SSDs are designed to speed things up and play a role in games and other high-speed applications.
As these SSDs move from newer versions to more generic technologies, the cost may drop. Currently, you have to pay for the development and manufacture of these new devices.
So until those costs start low, the prices stay high.
2. Costly NAND chips
Hard Drives use magnetic disks to hold the data whereas the SSDs use something called NAND-Flash for this job. NAND Flash is a powerful technology and is used in various kinds of devices.
Along with that, there are various types of Flash storage. But, the Flash storage used in SSDs is of very high quality and that’s why they are not cheap.
Now, you might be thinking that RAMs also use Flash storage. So, why RAMs are cheap even though they are very much faster as compared to SSDs?
The answer is, the RAM uses a different kind of memory (volatile) which should be continuously powered in order to hold or process the data.
So, in order to make Flash storage capable of holding the data even without the power supply, they should be configured in a different way. So, this complete setup of SSD makes it expensive to manufacture.
3. More stable
Conventional hard drives use robotic arms to write or read information.
In the case of SDD, this does not apply. Since the robotic arm is not part of the process, the stability, silence, and high speed of the SSD are improved. SSDs share information directly on the chip. This can reduce the energy requirement.
In general, the more moving parts you have, the more likely you are to experience problems. This also helps in providing stable performance in longer runs.
3. Manufacturing process
Flash Memory was introduced in 1991. But, SSDs have come to the highlight recently. The manufacturing process is still very recent. Since SSDs have not been used for a long time, production still needs support. The process of manufacturing and distributing SSDs is not yet perfect.
After all, these must be tested and approved before they leave the warehouse. End users will have to spend more money before they streamline the process.
4. Low SSD demand (Demand and Supply Law)
It is worth noting that since the introduction of SSDs, many computers have included SSD storage. However, this will directly affect the price of the computer or laptop you buy. The demand for SSDs increases over time but still occupies a lower market compared to HDDs.
Interestingly, if your computer includes SSD storage, you are going to have some great results. But, in order to receive great results, you will have to pay for it. But, not everyone is aware of it.
In my point of view, we do not want to take risks. And, if someone tells you that SSD is going to enhance your computer speed, you may not believe them. The same thing applies to companies. No one wants to invest in a technology that is so much complex but has very low demand and hence the margins.
The general consumers will not understand the importance of an SSD and try to stick with the hard drive.
I would also like to mention that there is a big need for good marketing in this space. Companies should invest hardly to make general people aware of this amazing technology.
5. SSDs are complex to assemble.
In addition to the above reasons, the main challenge is to install SSD, especially for NAND flash memory management. Especially the firmware and the controller have to be configured very well in a tightly enclosed space.
Also, the SSDs have to go through rigorous stress tests before they leave the production. And we all know, testing doesn’t come for free. So, if a company is providing you a stable product with increased performance, they are going to charge much as well.
Finally, Should you buy an SSD or not?
In my opinion, investment in SSD instead of HDD is definitely a wise decision if you really looking to use a computer with a crisp response. If you are buying a new laptop or Desktop, just spend some more money and go for SSD.
If you are currently using a system with a hard disk, just upgrade to the SSD and you will see a huge difference in performance. Especially, the OS and software loading time will be reduced by more than half.
We know SSDs aren’t cheap and there are valid reasons for the same. But, if you buy one for yourself, you are surely going to get a 100% return on investment for sure.
Final Verdict
We hope you are now aware of why SSDs are more expensive than HDDs.
But, we have reached a point where we can’t push the limits of HDDs any further. So, definitely, the SSDs are going to grow more and more in the future and the prices will drop for sure.
Thanks for reading!