SSD vs HDD – which storage should you choose?

Choosing between SSD and HDD affects how fast your computer feels in everyday life – and how quickly your games load. Here we break down the differences so you can choose the right storage for your computer.

What is the difference between SSD and HDD?

An HDD (hard disk drive) stores data on spinning platters, while an SSD (solid state drive) uses flash memory with no moving parts. This makes the SSD dramatically faster, quieter, and more resistant to shock.

SSD – speed above all

• Much faster: The computer starts in seconds and games load significantly faster.
• Quiet and durable: No moving parts.
• Higher price per GB: But prices have dropped sharply.

HDD – large storage cheaply

• More space for your money: Good for large archives and backups.
• Slower: Clearly noticeable during startup and charging.

Best solution for gaming

For most people, the combination is best: an SSD for the operating system and your most played titles, and possibly an HDD to supplement large storage needs. If you want to keep it simple, a spacious SSD is the obvious choice today.

Which SSD should you choose?

There are different types of SSDs, from SATA to faster NVMe models. For gaming, a good SSD will go a long way – the difference compared to HDD is huge no matter which SSD you choose.

Our recommendation

If you still only have an HDD, an SSD is the single most noticeable upgrade you can make. Your computer will feel like new. With us you will find storage and other components to speed up your computer.

Are you rebuilding your entire computer? Also look at hardware and other and our finished gaming computers.