Comeau Computing Tech Magazine 2024
As technology advances, so do games, computers, and consoles. The latest statistics show that there are more than one million different games available for users all over the world, and there are hundreds of thousands of them that are available for PC gamers only. The console you choose is up to your personal preferences, and nowadays most of the games are available for everyone, no matter if you like to use your computer, x-box or you prefer playing them on a play station. If you are the type of user who likes to use their PC or laptop for gaming, then you probably know that the specifications of the unit will make a lot of difference in the overall experience. Many gamers choose to spend a lot of money on the graphic card, the cooling system, and even on the chair they sit on, but one thing that is going to make the biggest difference is the drive you are using. In the past, we were used to only having a hard disc drive or HDD, but now, with the advancement of technology, we have been introduced to SSDs or solid-state drives.
If you are unsure if you should choose an HDD or an SSD for your computer, then you’ve come to the right place! In this article, we are going to talk to you about some of the reasons why you should choose an SDD hard drive, instead of a hard disc drive. Note that the things we are going to mention here are statistics, as well as user experiences. At the end of the day, the final choice is yours and you should make it depending on the games you are playing, the configuration you have, as well as the budget.
1. Faster
The first reason why you should opt for a solid-state drive is that they are much faster. Every gamer knows that even seconds count, and you don’t want your game to lag in the most important moment.
When it comes to speed, this unit will boost the overall performance of your device, starting from cutting the time for turning on, up to responsiveness, and the way the game is loaded. For example, when you use an HDD, your PC usually turns on, and everything loads in about a minute. Well, with an SSD, everything will be up, loaded, and ready for you to turn your favorite game on in less than 30 seconds. According to LaptopExplorer.com, when we compare just the starting time, when you use a solid-state drive, the starting time will be about 7 seconds, and with a typical hard disc drive, that time is about 16 seconds. This means an HDD needs more than double the time an SDD would need to start your personal computer.
Even though this does not look like much of a difference, when you combine the time every time you turn it on, you will realize that in one year, you may be saving up to several hours of waiting time. It is said that with a good HDD, you will receive a speed up to one Gb per second, whereas with a solid-state drive, that speed can go up to 3 Gb per second.
2. Durability
The next thing we are going to talk about is the lifetime of the components. Nothing lasts forever, and in some time, you will need to change some of your laptop or PC components. However, there is a difference between having to change them because they are starting to break down, and wanting to change them because you have the budget for it.
When we invest in a great machine, we plan on using it without modifications for at least a few years, and we don’t want to change different parts because they are starting to wear off. The mechanical parts of a hard disc unit can get damaged by movement, so no matter if you are using a laptop or an external drive, you will have to pay close attention to it. On the other hand, the SSD is far more durable, and you don’t have to be that cautious when using it. When we compare how both of the discs react to different environments, we can see that the HDD is more likely to get damaged when the temperatures change, and they are not shock-proof.
So, if you want to save money in the long run, and if you don’t want to worry about every little bump your laptop or external drive hits, then you should opt for an SSD.
3. Low energy
The last thing we are going to talk about is energy consumption. We don’t pay a lot of attention when it comes to this, but in reality, it is something that you should think about the most. The energy consumption will not make a huge difference in an hour or two, but if you want to play your favorite games, this thing makes a lot of difference.
When a unit uses a lot of energy, in time it will start heating the other components. This will lead to damage, breaking, and possibly even the melting of the components. Some of the games require a lot of energy, and if the drive is not able to support the requirements of the game, your computer will start overheating. You may have noticed this if your laptop’s cooler starts overworking, or if your PC suddenly turns off or restarts. This means that the game is too powerful for your configuration, and you need to think about using a different disk.
When it comes to solid-state drives, they consume a lot less energy, they are faster, and they won’t heat the unit. They can support even the games with the biggest requirements, and your device will never overheat or restart.
These are some of the reasons why you should opt for an SSD instead of an HDD. They are faster, more responsive and they are going to last much longer. Even though these drives come with a bigger price tag, in the long run, you will realize that they are actually saving you money.
