• home
  •  > 
  • Games
  •  > 
  • Choosing a solid state ssd hard drive. Choosing an SSD for your computer

Choosing a solid state ssd hard drive. Choosing an SSD for your computer

A solid state drive is not much different in appearance from an HDD.

The abbreviation SSD stands for Solid State Drive. You can translate it into Russian as a solid-state drive. Its main advantage is the absence of moving internal parts, that is, all operations are performed by electronic units.

In fact, the first solid state drive appeared in 1978. But in those days, the benefits of its use were very doubtful, and production was costly. SSDs were introduced to the general public around 2007-2008. They were modest in memory size and could have around 128 GB. Nowadays, there are already models of solid-state drives with a capacity of 1 TB and read/write speeds of 2600/1600 MB/s. And not so long ago, the Russian company GS Group began producing SSDs.

In a special publication on our portal, we will talk in detail about what RAM is in a computer. You will learn the characteristics of RAM, how to find out the amount of RAM and types of RAM on your computer.

Difference between SSD and HDD

The most important difference is in the design. An SSD has no moving parts, which means there is nothing inside it to wear out. And as a result - the absence of noise. Due to the fact that all the elements inside the SSD are soldered and secured, such a drive is much more resistant to shocks and vibrations.

On a HDD, files are read by passing the magnetic head over the surface of the disk. The reading and writing speed in this case depends on the disk rotation speed. In an SSD, there is no magnetic disk as such, and reading occurs by checking the memory cells for the presence of charge in them, which is undoubtedly faster.

The same applies to random access to data. For example, to simultaneously read several different HDD files, its magnetic head will have to “rush” between different sections of the disk to ensure timely loading of data. An SSD can simultaneously find and load several files at once.

Well, another significant advantage is low energy consumption.

Well, now it’s worth remembering the shortcomings. The most important of them, because of which many users were initially afraid to switch to SSDs, is the limited number of rewrite cycles. In other words, the more often data on a disk is overwritten, the sooner it will fail. Moreover, this happened at the most unexpected moments for the user. But the technology is improving, mechanisms are being added to control the number of cell rewrites, which allow new data to be added to less “worn-out” ones. Memory types are also being upgraded, which will further extend the life of the device.

Another repulsive factor is the price of the SSD drive. But this is a temporary phenomenon, as the cost is gradually decreasing. For example, today an average quality 500 GB disk can be bought for about 9,000 rubles. An HDD of this volume can be purchased for 2,000–3,000 rubles, with a disk rotation speed of 7200 rpm.

Well, the last thing worth knowing about SSDs is the impossibility of recovering files after deletion. Although some manufacturers provide their devices with mechanisms that allow this to be done. Perhaps in the future we will see an SSD with all the capabilities of an HDD, but without its disadvantages.

Main technical characteristics of SSD drives for PCs

The main parameters by which it is customary to choose an SSD are: volume, form factor, connection type and read/write speeds. But, besides them, there are other, less popular options. Let's look into all the intricacies of the characteristics and find out which SSD to choose when purchasing.

Volume

It makes no sense to explain specifically about the capacity of a hard drive in our digital age. In short, it characterizes the maximum amount of data that can be written to it. It is measured in gigabytes and, more recently, in terabytes. 1TB = 1000 GB.

Disk board

This is interesting: in fact, there is a little confusion with terabytes, as with other units - gigabytes and megabytes. The fact is that almost all applications and OS use 1024 GB as a terabyte. But in the SI unit measurement system, the prefix “tera” means 1012, that is, exactly 1,000,000,000,000. Almost all hard drive manufacturers adhere to the “correct” metric: 1 TB = 1000 GB. But the operating system can calculate and display the volume in its own way, based on 1TB = 1024 GB.

In general, the main selection criterion is the more, the better.

Form factor

There are 4 main form factors present on the market: 1.8“, 2.5“, 3.5“ and several varieties of M.2. The first two standards are usually used as a laptop SSD hard drive. The rest are more common on desktop versions of PCs. If everything is clear with inches, then M.2 is worth understanding in more detail.

Form factor 2.5"

M.2 is a relatively new specification of connectors and boards. Mainly used to connect SSDs, but other devices are also present, such as USB, Wi-Fi modules, etc. In most cases, there are SSDs with M and B keys. This is easy to determine - there will be three separate buses on the board: two small and one large in the middle. Also, boards are divided into 2242, 2260, 2280. This is nothing more than the size. The first two digits indicate the width, the rest - the length.

Form factor M.2 and its varieties

ATTENTION!

Before installing an SSD drive on your computer, you should make sure that the module does not interfere with other components of the motherboard and cooling.

Connection interface

The connection interface is very closely related to the form factor. The two most popular connection types today are SATA and PCIe. The first option has increased compatibility, as it is present on almost all motherboards, including laptops.

SATA interface cable

PCIe variants are mostly found in desktop systems. Although it should be noted that the M.2 standard is gradually beginning to be adopted by mobile platforms.

Read/write speed

With speeds in the SSD environment, everything is very complicated. Naturally, the read and write speed is much higher than that of an HDD. However, many manufacturers like to significantly inflate these parameters for marketing purposes. Therefore, when choosing, it is better to focus on reviews of authoritative resources and publications, as well as reviews from customers who have already tried the device.

Memory type and runtime to failure

There are three types of SSD memory: SLC, MLC and TLC. At the beginning of 2017, Intel announced a new type of memory, but the device is still too expensive and it is not yet known how long it will take for it to reach the average user. So these three known types are used.

SLC stands for Single Level Cell, that is, a single-level cell. The most productive type with the longest operating life. However, while their price is relatively high, such SSDs are used mainly in server solutions.

MLC− multi-level cell. We can say that this is an average level between SLC and TLC. Average resource, average productivity, average price.

TLC− the most inexpensive type of memory, weakest in terms of performance and service life. It was this technology that was used to operate conventional flash drives.

TRIM function

This function was needed after the development of the first solid-state drives. The fact is that regular HDDs and SSDs perform deletion and formatting differently. In short, to repeat the technique of these operations on an SSD, like an HDD, the speed and resource of solid-state drives would become uncompetitive.

The TRIM function is used to clear cells before overwriting them. This saves access time for the SSD. Support for its systems began with Windows 7, Linux 2.6.33 and MacOS. Android, starting with version 4.3, has its own analogue of the TRIM function.

THIS IS INTERESTING:

If suddenly your system does not support the TRIM function, then there are several special utilities that perform its duties manually.

Drive clipboard

The buffer or cache on the HDD accelerated the writing and reading speed due to the accumulation of a certain amount of information in a separate area. This made it possible not to “tug” the hard drive one more time. In an SSD, this approach does not make sense, since writing and reading are already instantaneous. However, in solid-state drives, the cache is often used as a storage device for service information. It does not particularly affect performance, and is rarely indicated by developers in the specifications or information about the device.

What is the difference between expensive and cheap SSDs?

The main parameters that influence the cost of a solid-state drive are the type of memory, type of controller and its capacity. Memory types have already been discussed in the article just above. Controllers depend entirely on the manufacturer. From the top segment we can highlight brands such as Intel, Samsung, Marvell. The class below is followed by Jmicron or Silicon Motion.

Among the latest expensive new products, we can highlight products from Intel with the 3D Xpoint memory type. True, such an SSD disk for a 500 GB computer is sold at a price of about 40,000 rubles. The declared read/write speed on such a device can reach 2000/2500 MB/s.

Which is better for a laptop - HDD or SSD

The technological development of SSDs is still at such a level that using it in a system as the main hard drive is not considered acceptable. This is due to the fact that they fail too quickly compared to HDDs.

Therefore, the best solution for a solid-state hard drive for a laptop is to use it in conjunction with an HDD. You can install the operating system on the SSD, and programs, games, documents and other files on the HDD. If you are planning to buy an SSD drive for an M.2 format laptop, then you should first make sure that this laptop supports this type of connector.

M.2 solid state drive in a laptop

Which laptop SSD is better to choose? You can choose a budget version of the disk with a small capacity (for example, 60 GB), TLC memory type and, if possible, use M.2. This volume should be enough for most operating systems. All programs and games will be installed on an additional HDD, which will increase the service life of the device. If the SSD fails, all data will be saved to the HDD.

What is the best SSD drive for a computer? Review of several models and rating of SSD drives

The market for SSD devices is very diverse. Unlike processors, there are no leading players here. The production of solid-state drives is carried out by both large and famous corporations and little-known companies. However, often a small company can release an interesting, inexpensive and reliable device.

Plextor PX-128S3C - inexpensive SSD drive for PC and laptop

Budget solution for a desktop computer or laptop. It has a 2.5" form factor, which gives it versatility. The type of memory used is TLC, which is typical for inexpensive devices. The stated write/read characteristics are 500/550 MB/s. The test results showed only a slight deviation of these values.

Plextor PX-128S3C

The total memory is 128 GB, cache is 256 MB. According to the developers, the disk will be able to withstand about 35 TB of overwritten data and 1,500,000 hours of operation.

Samsung MZ-75E1T0BW

This SSD is different in that it uses a more modern type of 3D V-NAND memory, an improved version of TLC. It allows you to significantly increase the total volume, which is 1 TB in this SSD.

The controller used is our own - Samsung MEX. It is used in many similar devices and has proven itself to be a reliable and fast module.

Samsung MZ-75E1T0BW

Form factor − 2.5“. This means that the device can be used in both a desktop PC and a laptop. The declared read/write speed is 520/540 MB/s. Own cache is 1024 MB. The operating duration declared by the manufacturer is 1,500,000 hours.

Western Digital Green PC SSD 240 GB

Western Digital has been manufacturing storage devices for a long time. Naturally, they couldn’t ignore the SSD format. This model has a capacity of 240 GB, which means it can be used not only as a disk for the operating system, but also as the main data storage. The 2.5" form factor allows you to connect it to both a desktop PC and a laptop. Memory type: budget TLC. According to the developers, the peak speed can be 465 MB/s for writing and 540 MB/s for reading. However, tests show that the write speed can actually be about 200 MB/s.

Western Digital Green PC SSD 240 GB

As for the resource, about 1,750,000 operating hours are stated.

Samsung MZ-N5E250BW

Another representative from a famous brand. It differs from the one already presented in that it is made in the M.2 form factor with a size of 2280 MB, that is, suitable for stationary versions of PCs. But many modern laptops are now also equipped with this slot, so you can use this drive here too. Before purchasing, you should make sure that there is a bus on the motherboard.

Samsung MZ-N5E250BW

The volume of the device is 250 GB, the memory type is 3D V-NAND. Self-produced controller - Samsung MGX. Write/read speed: 500/540 MB/s. Buffer memory - 512 MB.

SmartBuy Ignition 4 240 Gb

A little-known brand that is gradually gaining popularity. The amount of disk space is 240 GB. The form factor is suitable for laptops and PCs - 2.5“. Interestingly, this budget option uses more powerful and reliable MLC memory.

SmartBuy Ignition 4 240 Gb

How to connect an SSD to a computer - basic nuances

There are no special differences from connecting a standard HDD. However, there are a couple of nuances that are best taken care of before installing the device.

Firstly, if the SSD form factor is 2.5", then you will need to buy a special adapter - 3.5", which will allow you to securely mount the drive in the PC case. It is connected to the motherboard via a SATA cable. Secondly, after installing the device, you will need to go into the computer’s BIOS and make sure that the AHCI drive mode is enabled.

One of the adapter options 2.5“ to 3.5“

There is no need to insert a separate adapter into your laptop, since almost all of them support the 2.5“ standard. The connectors are firmly fixed, so you just need to “insert” the disk and close it with the lid.

The SSD drive does not appear on my computer - the main reasons

It often happens that an SSD drive is detected in the BIOS, but does not want to appear in Windows. In most cases, this means there is no volume on the device. Therefore we need to create it.

Disk Management in Windows 7

For Windows 7 you will have to go to the diskmgmt.msc utility. You can find it by searching in the Start menu. The Disk Management window will open. The required SSD will appear as unallocated space. You need to right-click on it and select “Create Volume”.

Enabling SATA and AHCI in BIOS

It happens less often that the disk is not detected in the BIOS. In this case, you should start by checking the status of the SATA controller. It must be turned on. More significant problems may arise due to incompatibility of the motherboard, a defective disk, or for a number of other reasons.

What is the most profitable way to buy an SSD drive for a computer and how to buy an SSD drive for a laptop - overview table

We have collected several interesting models in one table, which reflects the characteristics, compatibility with PCs and laptops, prices and features of the SSD.

Device Peculiarities Compatibility Price, rub

Plextor PX-128S3C

 Memory type - TLC,
form factor − 2.5“,
35 TB of rewritable data.		 Laptop, desktop PC. 3 200

Samsung MZ-75E1T0BW

 Memory type - 3D V-NAND,
form factor − 2.5“,
1,500,000 operating hours.		 Laptop, desktop PC. 16 000

WD GREEN PC SSD 240 GB

 Memory type - TLC,
form factor − 2.5“,
1,750,000 operating hours.		 Laptop, desktop PC. 4 500

Samsung MZ-N5E250BW

 Memory type - 3D V-NAND,
form factor - M.2 2280,
1,500,000 operating hours.		 Laptop, desktop PC. 6 000

SmartBuy Ignition 4 240 Gb

 Memory type - MLC,
form factor - 2.5“.		 Laptop, desktop PC. 5 600

Intel SSDSC2BW240H601

 240 GB, form factor − 2.5“,
memory type – MLC.		 Laptop, desktop PC. 28 300

Kingston SE50S37/480G

 480 GB, form factor − 2.5“,
memory type – MLC.		 Server solutions. 23 000

If you have experience managing and working with SSD drives, then feel free to share it in the comments.

Does my laptop need an SSD?

Nowadays, a solid-state drive is no longer a privilege of expensive laptops, but an almost obligatory component even for models costing 60 thousand rubles. However, if you ask yourself this question, then the most interesting things are yet to come.

As Confucius said: “Once you work on a computer with an SSD, there will be no turning back.” If in the last decade everyone was chasing hundreds and thousands of megahertz, then with the advent of SSD it became obvious that the bottleneck was the drive, not the processor.

If your laptop with a quad-core i7 takes a minute or more to load Windows and launch applications, the problem is definitely with the slow hard drive, and not with the processor. With an SSD, everything starts in a matter of seconds, files are opened and saved instantly. As a result, work becomes much more enjoyable. So let's be honest: the only time you don't need an SSD is if you already have one.


SSDs are expensive, aren't they?

Hard drives are still noticeably cheaper than SSDs based on the price of one megabyte, this is a fact. But in most cases, you don’t need a bulk “solid body”. You can always watch TV series online, store photos in the bottomless storage of Yandex.Disk, Google Drive or Dropbox, listen to music from countless streaming services, domestic or foreign.

So it turns out that often users don’t actually have that much information on their laptop, and the basics can be stored on a fairly inexpensive SSD. True, on a gaming laptop it’s not so simple anymore. Of course, I would like to install all the toys on a solid-state machine so that the maps in Battlefield don’t take such a painfully long time to load. But, unfortunately, modern games eat up too much space to be installed on inexpensive solid-state drives. But there are options, described in the next paragraph.

Where will I store terabytes of photos from my last vacation in Tenerife?

And even if your laptop is filled to capacity with media files, this is still not a reason to refuse to purchase an SSD. Even a not very large volume is enough to install an operating system, browser and other essential programs. And then you won't recognize your laptop.

Moreover, it is not at all necessary to give up a hard drive with hundreds of gigabytes of goods acquired through back-breaking labor. Firstly, there are many laptops with space for both a fast solid-state drive and a large hard drive. Secondly, even if you have a super-thin ultrabook, this is not a problem - external hard drives have been on sale for a long time. And even hard drives with Wi-Fi for those who don’t like wires. Or again, you can rent a place in the cloud. Although, if you plan to use it as a balcony or garage, that is, to look only once a year or less often and put everything there that you would hate to throw away, then it is better to take an external hard drive.

Can I install an SSD in my laptop?

In most cases, the answer is yes. It is definitely not possible to install a “solid state” only in laptops in which it is already soldered directly on the motherboard. But cases when the laptop already has an SSD are not of much interest to us in this material.

If your laptop has only one slot for storage devices, and it is already occupied by a hard drive, then the best option is to buy a solid-state drive to replace the hard drive, and for the hard drive, purchase a special container with an adapter to turn this hard drive into a convenient external hard drive. This way you solve the problem with both system speed and storing a large amount of data. And, in fact, you have nothing to lose.

One way or another, you will have to start by finding out how many drives you can install in your laptop and what type they are. There are not many variations, but enough to confuse the inexperienced person. Therefore, it is best to look for forums for specific models, where people have already figured out which drives can be installed in a particular laptop model.

Which to choose?

Form factor

The question of choosing a form factor depends not on you, but on your laptop. Older models only support 2.5-inch drives with a SATA interface. They are not as fast as some modern solid state devices with an M.2 connector. Most often, purchasing them is simply a necessity if the laptop does not have M.2.

However, the performance of a high-quality 2.5-inch solid-state drive is more than enough for everyday needs, and even more so for a person who has never dealt with an SSD before. Moreover, the M.2 connector itself is not an indicator of the drive’s performance, and among SSDs with M.2 there are even slower models.

However, the fastest M.2s are five times faster than standard 2.5-inch ones. But the point here is not even in the name of the connector, but in the data transfer interface. Faster SSDs are indicated by the acronym PCIe 3.0 (or NVMe), but we won't go into detail about such subtleties.

Volume

Anything less than 120 GB is not worth attention at all - nothing will fit there, and you will just experience constant pain. The exception is all sorts of Chromebooks with 32 and 64 GB drives, but often these are not even SSDs, but devices with slow memory and slow controllers that work even slower than hard drives.

You can already live with a 120 GB drive, but only on the condition that you really don’t store a lot of programs and files. Otherwise, it is better to pay attention to the 256 GB models.

Finally, 512 and 1024 GB are desirable figures for many, but the cost of such drives at retail is high, and the surcharge for modifying a laptop with similar ones is even higher. You can even place video games there, or, for example, two operating systems, each with its own set of programs and files, and much more that your imagination is capable of.

For those who don't like to read large texts, you can jump straight to the conclusions - at the beginning of 2017, the Samsung 850 Evo SSD with a capacity of 256 or 512 gigabytes is still the best choice for most people. It's fast, reliable, comes with a long warranty, and comes with proprietary software to make the transition from a regular drive to an SSD easy.

Updated September 2018.: Samsung released an update to all of its SSDs this year Evo 860 And 860 Pro, transferring their production to new memory (64-layer TLC 3D V-NAND) and a new controller. However, from the point of view of the average user, the characteristics of the SSD have remained virtually unchanged, in some places even becoming slightly worse. However, the price of new SSDs remains the same, and old models are simply sold out until they run out. Therefore, you can safely buy either an old or a new model. However, it's important to keep in mind that the new 860 series no longer has a 120GB SSD. Therefore, if you need just such an SSD, you should hurry up with your purchase. Because the production of such SSDs has ceased

And now about this in more detail.

Why should you believe me?

As I mentioned in the site description, I have been writing about technology for the last ten years, or even more. I spend even more time fiddling with this technique. This means that almost every day I try something new, tweak something, reconfigure something, change something, and so on in the same spirit. This text is a generalization of my (and not only my, but also my colleagues) experience. So yes, you can trust me.

Who needsSSD?

If your computer or laptop is from 3 to 5 years old (earlier models may contain SATA-II connectors, in this case the purchase should be considered separately, see the corresponding section below), and your system runs on a regular hard drive, then it makes sense to think about purchasing an SSD. The dollar is quite high right now, so you should have good reasons to buy it.

What does SSD give? As a rule, it has three main advantages: almost instantaneous loading of the operating system (less than 10 seconds), fast loading of files and programs, and lower power consumption (the latter is relevant for laptops and allows them to last longer on battery power).

Thus, if the operation of your computer is limited by the performance of the disk system, purchasing an SSD is more than justified. With it, the system will simply “fly” and last significantly longer on battery power.

The picture above shows an example of just such a case. The bottleneck in this laptop is two elements - the power of the built-in video card (there is nothing you can do about it) and the performance of the hard drive. The processor and memory are in perfect order. After installing the SSD, the system will become noticeably faster.

To whomDon't need an SSD?

If you have a relatively old computer (more than 5 years old), or are using an old SSD that is not very fast or has little memory, then there is little point for you to buy a new SSD. With this money, it is better to add memory or upgrade the processor. Well, or put it off for an upgrade. Yes, the system will boot faster and files will open much better. But opening a simple browser will turn your computer into a pumpkin again.

Update July 27, 2016: In the comments there is regularly a debate regarding whether an SSD can be used for downloading torrents. Since opinions vary, let's listen to the manufacturers themselves. In a recent post on the Geektimes website (an hardware project that broke away from the legendary Habrahabr), SSD manufacturer Kingston directly writes:

But if you have a lot to choose from, it’s better to download torrents on your hard drive. Because there are SUVs for fun, and there are SUVs for traveling in the mud. The HDD rather belongs to the second category.

Those. It's simple, if the SSD is the only disk in the system, then download it. You still have no choice. Moreover, it is truly a magical sight to watch how the download speed is not limited by the capabilities of the hard drive, and reaches enormous values. But if you do have a hard drive in your system, then it is better to record torrents there. Because the SSD resource is not rubber, and regular downloading, deleting, downloading still reduces it.

What volumeShould I choose an SSD drive?

For desktop computers, the minimum comfortable volume is 256 GB. There is no point in taking less for two reasons:

  1. As a rule, 128 GB models operate at significantly lower write and read speeds.
  2. In order for an SSD drive to work long and reliably, it must have at least 30% free space. This is due to the fact that the disk controller must evenly distribute the load between the memory cells to ensure even wear.

Thus, 256 GB is the minimum size of an SSD disk for a desktop computer. To store files that do not require daily access, you can use a traditional hard drive (see).

With a laptop, things are a little more complicated. Since many laptops do not allow you to install both an SSD drive and a hard drive at the same time, the entire amount of information will have to be stored on the SSD. Therefore, 512 GB is the optimal solution that will suit most users. Unfortunately, the price of such a drive is impressive, but you get quick access to all files and noticeable savings in battery life. By the way, if for some reason your laptop has a DVD-ROM, you can remove it (this is done very simply) and replace it with a hard drive bay. In this case, you can replace the standard drive with an SSD, and connect the old drive instead of the DVD. This way you will speed up the system and expand the space.

Does it make sense to buy a SATA-2 SSD?

Judging by the comments, this point is worth discussing separately. So, if your motherboard supports SATA3, then the interface bandwidth is 6 Gb/s, SATA2 is only 3 Gb/s. Those. It would seem that the difference is twofold. However, as we said in the section about flash drives, it is not the linear speed that is important, but the speed of reading scattered files. Because when loading, the system assembles the OS into separate files, spread out haphazardly across the drive.

In order to answer the question of whether it is necessary to install a modern SSD drive in a system with SATA2, let’s turn to a thorough article from the THG.RU resource. The authors sequentially connected the Samsung 840 PRO drive, by the way, an excellent SSD of the previous generation, to SATA2 and 3 ports. To have something to compare with, the third one in the test was a very fast WD VelociRaptor hard drive. If you look at the linear write and read speed graph, the advantage of SATA 3 is more than noticeable.

Please note - in this case, the HDD practically does not lag behind the SSD connected via SATA-2. However, as we understand, linear writing and reading speed is not so important. In a real situation, we are more interested in the speed of an arbitrary (random sector). Let's see how the disks behave with a random sector size of 512 Kb.

As you can see, the difference is also twofold, while the hard drive begins to lag significantly. If you make the sector size 4Kb, the difference between SATA will practically disappear, but the HDD will generally become very slow. What does this lead to? Besides, say, loading your operating system from an HDD will take noticeably longer than from an SSD. Moreover, the difference in connection will not play a role. Windows will boot almost equally quickly.

What conclusion can be drawn? Everything is very simple - if you use the SSD exclusively as boot and system, there will not be much difference between SATA-2 and SATA-3. Both interfaces allow loading quite quickly. And even in this case, buying an SSD is justified.

And here's where the interesting part lies: if you have an old computer with only SATA-2, then you hardly need a modern high-speed SSD. It's not your problem. Yes, the system will boot noticeably faster. But the performance itself... Let's just say that for this money it is easier to buy additional memory and upgrade the motherboard and processor. The difference will be noticeable even on an old HDD. But if you have reached a bottleneck in terms of hard drive performance, and there is no desire to spend money on a significant upgrade, then yes, you can take a closer look at the purchase. But, again, it’s better to think about upgrading your computer, and then come here and choose a modern SSD that will reveal 100% of the potential of your system.

WhichIs SSD better to choose?

At the moment, the best choice would be to buy a Samsung 850 EVO SSD of the size you need (or a similar Samsung 860 EVO). At the start of sales, it was quite expensive, but now prices in dollars have dropped a little and the price has become more or less acceptable.

Why 850 or 860 EVO? The fact is that most modern consumer-grade SSDs have similar characteristics. Trust me, unless you are an SSD expert, in most cases you will not notice a difference in speed between different models. You will notice a significant difference between the performance of the hard drive and the SSD. But between different SSD models – no.

Then what comes to the fore if not speed? These are price, reliability, the ability to survive a large number of recording cycles, the quality of the controller, the quality of the firmware and proprietary software that makes life easier for the user.

In this regard, the Samsung 850 EVO currently has virtually no competitors.

  • It is relatively inexpensive (at the time of publication, an average of 8 thousand for a volume of 256 GB and 12 thousand for 500 GB);
  • it is fast (on average 516 Mb/s read and 426 Mb/s write);
  • it is reliable (Samsung itself is the manufacturer of both the memory and the controller);
  • it can pump up to 150 Tb of data through itself (this is a very large amount of data for most users);
  • it has a 5 year warranty.

In addition, if you use Windows, then the kit includes proprietary software that allows you, firstly, to conveniently migrate from a hard drive to an SSD, and secondly, and this is the best part, to use up to 4 GB of RAM as a cache for the disk. This allows you to work with the disk even faster.

Another advantage to the purchase may be the presence of hardware data encryption. Most users do not need this at all, but for some it may be critical.

And if there is no noticeable difference in speed, is there something cheaper?

If the price of the Samsung 850 EVO seems too expensive to you, then I would put the Crucial BX100 in second place.

It costs 2 thousand rubles cheaper. He is also fast, he is also reliable.

In fact, for a slightly lower price you get a slightly smaller warranty - only three years, a smaller amount of data that can be pumped through the disk (72 TB instead of 150 for Samsung, although this value is enough for the eyes). Additionally, it doesn't come with the same software as the 850 EVO. But no one is stopping you from using third-party programs, of which there are quite a few. You'll just have to tinker a little with the settings.

So, if that doesn't bother you, the Crucial BX100 is a great alternative to the 850 EVO. Moreover, the Crucial BX100 consumes less energy and the laptop will last at least a little longer (about 10 minutes).

M.2 SSD drive

Despite the fact that M.2 slots are appearing in more and more laptops and motherboards, and a) can be faster than a regular SSD, b) allow you to use both an SSD for Windows and a HDD for storing files at the same time, it is very difficult to advise anything here . The fact is that at the moment there are two versions of the M.2 standard. These are M.2 SATA and M.2 PCI. Each of them is divided into several substandards depending on the physical dimensions, and M.2 PCI is also divided into several substandards depending on the number of connected PCI lines.

Those. You can’t just go to the store and buy an M.2 disk. First, you need to study the documentation of your laptop or motherboard, understand which standard suits you, and only then buy something specific. Therefore, I repeat, it is very difficult to advise anything specific here. If you are still determined to buy an M.2 SSD, I advise you to go to this one, our website, where we tried to collect the most complete information on the compatibility of various drives with various hardware. And based on the data obtained, select a specific model.

If you have M.2 SATA size 2280, then you don’t have to think too much and take the same Samsung 850 EVO in M.2 format. In all other cases, you will have to look hard.

SSD for professionals

If your work involves processing a lot of photos in raw RAW format, or you constantly edit large amounts of video, work with 3D graphics, are a fan of heavy daily torrents, or run several virtual machines at the same time, then a regular SSD will not suit you. In this case, I would pay attention to the Samsung 850 Pro version.

Why is he better? First of all, it's faster. This is actually noticeable when working with large files in random read mode. During normal work the difference is not noticeable, but in the case of professional use, the difference can be felt. Secondly, it has a 10 year warranty. Thirdly, it was originally designed for such a harsh operating mode and has appropriate reliability. In fact, it has no competitors in its class. The price, unfortunately, is also 30% higher: 256 gigabytes cost 10-11 thousand rubles, 500 GB - about 16 thousand.

Who else likes Samsung Evo SSDs?

As you can see, the Samsung 850 EVO is the best choice in terms of price/performance ratio. A few quotes from the review authors:

  • Samsung 850PRO. This is the most productive and most technologically advanced SATA SSD, which is based on a unique three-dimensional MLC V-NAND. In addition to outstanding performance, this model also stands out for its high reliability, which is backed by a 10-year warranty. In addition, the Samsung 850 PRO boasts a whole bunch of different nice little things, for example, support for OS-controlled encryption and an excellent tool utility.
  • Samsung 850 EVO. The younger brother of the invincible 850 PRO also stands out from the competition. Yes, it is based on TLC V-NAND and therefore produces lower performance during write operations, but this does not prevent it from remaining one of the best SSDs in terms of weighted average performance and occupying a leading position in the mid-price category. In addition, the 850 EVO inherits from the 850 PRO the entire proprietary set of additional advantages: encryption support, high-quality software, etc.

Computer technology is improving in different directions, allowing users to more efficiently use software and work resources in general. The main competition has been observed for many years in the video card and communication segments, but more recently, hard drive developers have also made a small revolution. As a result, many home PC users are wondering how to choose an SSD drive? The tips presented below will help you find the right solution to this very important task.

Features of the SSD format

In terms of performance, the new format offers users many advantages. Among them are high files, compactness, and resistance to physical damage. Unlike conventional hard drives, such drives require less time to load the OS, and the difference is clearly felt - startup occurs in a matter of seconds. High speed is ensured by almost any SSD drive, which is the optimal model from a wide range? This issue should be resolved rather on the basis of reliability requirements. This is due to the fact that this format also has disadvantages that still stop many from changing the type of drive. For example, SSD, unlike HDD, loses in durability. Therefore, a new selection criterion arises - the period of failure. In addition, you will have to overpay for increased performance, since with the same volume such disks cost almost several times more.

Selection by volume

The most popular sizes are 64 and 128 GB. It would seem that such volumes are becoming rare even in the computers of undemanding users working with traditional HDDs. But this is precisely due to the high cost of SSDs. On the other hand, there are common cases when users purchase capacious storage facilities with a huge supply, which later remains unclaimed. In particular, you can find 1 TB drives on the market. But such a volume justifies itself only in rare cases, especially when it comes to using a PC at home.

Also, when considering the question of how to choose an SSD disk for a computer based on data capacity, do not forget about the effect of volume on reading speed. As is the case with HDDs, the SSD format demonstrates different operating speeds depending on the capacity. Even within families of the same manufacturer, 32 GB and 64 GB models may differ in performance indicators. In other words, the smaller the volume, the higher the speed. At the same time, you may not feel much of a difference at the everyday level. For many PC owners, the ability to fill the disk with information is much more important.

Interface Mapping

This format also differs in the type of interface. It must be said that even HDD drives have long been moving away from the classic PCI-Express cable, switching to connections via SATA. As a result, those users who do not plan to switch to non-mechanical drives should consider this nuance when purchasing a new HDD format. But if the old format has been acquiring the first and second generations for several years, then the SSD primarily works with SATA 3. This controller is the most preferable if you purchase an SSD drive for a computer.

How to choose the desired interface format? It is enough to familiarize yourself with the characteristics, which will indicate type 3. In practice, this means more stable interaction of the disk with other computer components. By the way, the noted speed of the drive is largely explained by the advantages of SATA. But if for one reason or another you purchased a device with IDE or older generations of SATA, then do not be upset, since manufacturers offer special adapters for connecting such drives to modern motherboards.

Memory type

The impact on the operating features of the device is not as obvious as in the case of the interface and volume, but it would also be useful to take it into account. So, there are 3 memory options - SLC, TLC and MLC formats. As for the first, it involves storing data for each cell in 1 bit. In this case, you can count on high speed and durability, but the price of such models is higher. Two other types of memory allow storage of 2 and 3 bits in each cell, respectively, for MLC and TLC formats. And in these cases, there is an inverse relationship between the speed of operation and the price at which an SSD drive for a computer is sold.

How to choose a disk in terms of memory type? Experts still recommend relying not on speed, but on durability, since this is the weak point of a non-mechanical drive. And in this regard, the best option would be an SLC device, since it allows up to 100 thousand rewrites. For comparison: MLC and TLC formats allow on average 3 and 1 thousand cycles, respectively. But, again, do not forget about the price issue.

Models for computer and laptop - what is the difference?

The differences between drives designed for desktop PCs and laptops are based on external characteristics and are practically not related to the performance of the device. Actually, the classic SSD form factor is primarily aimed at laptops. This is a 2.5-inch flash drive, which in its pure form can be integrated into a mobile computer. The main size issues arise for users of desktop machines. That is, the question of how to choose an SSD drive for a computer or laptop in terms of form factor should be decided depending on how you plan to physically install the drive. Again, the 2.5-inch size is not a problem for a laptop, but a regular computer may not have the appropriate connector.

There can be two ways out of the situation. Firstly, you can initially purchase a case that has space specifically for a 2.5-inch drive. Secondly, if we are talking about a block model with traditional 3.5-inch bays, then you will have to buy a special metal adapter that will optimally accommodate the drive.

Reviews of Intel models

Perhaps this manufacturer produces the highest quality models. But it is important to note that these products are rarely found in mass consumption. This is due to the fact that the developers are extremely responsible when it comes to components, which results in high quality. But the big disadvantage of Intel drives is their high cost, so the majority of users of these models are professionals.

Administrators and specialists servicing server stations note the reliability, impeccable assembly and performance that Intel SSD drives for a computer provide. How to choose the optimal model from this family? Unfortunately, you can’t count on budget, so you need to immediately prepare for large expenses. You can safely purchase a model that meets its main characteristics, including the same amount of data.

Reviews of Crucial models

Discs from the Crucial line, unlike the previous company, are produced for the mass segment. At the same time, some series are being developed jointly with Intel, so these drives will also have a certain quality reserve. As for the practice of use, the owners point to stability, high service life and good speed. If the question arises about how you can choose an SSD drive for your computer so that it is of high quality and inexpensive, then you can completely trust this company. Popular sizes of models from this manufacturer are in the range of 32-128 GB.