Whether you’ve started a build or want to upgrade your system, buying the right drive is very important. In this guide, we’ll explain the basic features of each type of drive along with useful tips.

Drives are divided based on their construction into 3 types: HDDs, SSDs, and Hybrids, but before we analyze them, we need to look at their most important feature.

Drive Capacity: What size do you need

Drive capacities range from 500GB to over 12TB (1TB=1000GB) to cover even the most demanding storage needs. As a general rule, if you store lots of videos/movies, choose drives with larger capacities.

Skroutz Tip: For convenience, you can keep in mind that 1TB is equivalent to about 35 hours of Full High Definition (1080p) video or about 250,000 images.

For simple everyday use, a capacity from 1 to 2 TB is ideal.

HDD Drives (Hard Disc Drive)

The HDD drive is the most economical type of hard drive, since it is a technology that has been used for many years. Its operation is based on magnetic disks, which rotate at impressive speeds in combination with a head that reads/writes data. Its speed is measured in RPM (rotations per minute), and the most common speed one encounters is 7200 rpm. Due to the mechanical parts, this mechanism, apart from being economical, also makes them more vulnerable to failure compared to the other type we will see next.

Depending on the application they are intended for, drives come in different sizes, which are measured in inches. The most common size for desktop is 3.5”, while for a laptop or a small build it is 2.5”.

At the same time, there are HDD hard drives that are also intended for uses beyond simple file storage, such as for security cameras (DVR) as well as for server or NAS (Network-Attached Storage) system.

Advantages of HDD Drives:

• Affordable
• They offer the largest capacities

Disadvantages of HDD Drives:

• Prone to failures
• Noisy

SSD Drives (Solid State Drive)

SSDs are the evolution of HDD drives, replacing mechanical parts with chips to reduce weight and failures, while also increasing response speed, with their characteristic noticeably faster PC boot up. More expensive than HDD drives relative to their capacity but with greater reliability, SSDs are now the new standard. Finally, another important advantage is that they require less power to operate.

Like HDDs, their capacity is measured in GB and TB, with the difference that, for the same amount of storage, an SSD is generally more expensive than a mechanical drive, while they are available in a smaller variety of large capacities (over 3TB).

SSDs are divided into 2 categories based on size. The 2.5-inch drives, which are also the most common (they can also be used in older systems), and they connect via the SATA interface. At the same time, there are also M.2 SSDs, which are used in newer PCs and laptops and connect via either SATA or PCIe. The special feature of M.2 is that they connect directly to the motherboard without the need for cables.

Similarly, M.2 drives are divided into 2 categories depending on their speed. M.2 SATA SSDs and M.2 NVMe SSDs. The former offer the same speeds as 2.5” SSDs, while the latter take advantage of the PCIe communication protocol for much faster speeds.

Skroutz Tip: To connect an M.2 SSD, you need to make sure it is supported by your motherboard (that it has the corresponding slot). And for the newer and faster gen4 PCIe drives, that your processor also supports them.

Whether on older systems, or when your motherboard does not have enough slots, there is the option to install a PCIe SSD which connects directly to the available PCIe slot on your motherboard.

Advantages of SSD Drives:

• Reliable
• Faster operating speed
• Minimal weight/size
• Silent
• Lower power consumption

Disadvantages of SSD Drives:

• Expensive
• Limited capacity

Skroutz Tip: For a build (new or older), choose an SSD for the operating system and the programs you use most, and an HDD for greater capacity and storing large files that you do not access on a daily basis.

External Drives

If you want to transfer assignments for school or want to keep all your summer photos stored on one medium, you can choose to buy an external drive. The only difference is that the external one is designed to stay outside the case and can be connected to any PC you want via a simple USB cable.

Both HDD and SSD drives are also available in external versions and different sizes. If you want an external drive for frequent and fast data transfers, then choose an SSD. If you simply want to use it as a backup, the HDD will do the job and will be more economical.

Skroutz Tip: If, after an upgrade, you have an internal drive left over (of any type), you can turn it into an external one by buying the appropriate enclosure to protect it.

Data transfer speed

A newer generation of USB connection, such as USB 3.2, also means faster data transfer speeds! Check the ports supported by your computer to make sure you take full advantage of them.

Finally, if you often need to connect internal drives (HDD or 2.5” SSD) externally (via USB) to your computer, then a hard drive docking station will be especially useful.

Hard drives and Gaming

In PC gaming, drive speed plays a role in game loading and loading screens, while during gameplay there is no difference. If you want the fastest possible loading time in your games, choose an SSD. On the other hand, if you don’t mind it being a bit slower and want more space for your game library, get a 7,200rpm HDD with larger capacity.

As for console gaming, devices like the Playstation and XBOX allow users to replace their existing drives or add external ones to increase their storage. Each console and its version has different requirements and compatibility, so before buying any additional drive, carefully read the user manual on the manufacturer’s corresponding page. For example, here you can see compatible drives for the PS4.

Skroutz Tip: The PlayStation 5, through a firmware update, now offers the ability to expand its internal storage by adding an M.2 NVMe SSD to the system.

If you found the guide useful, continue your build by learning the essentials about motherboards and processors.