What is an Internal Solid-State Drive?
An SSD (Solid State Drive) is an ultra-fast data storage virtually impervious to damage due to collision or vibration. SSD Drive has adopted the same technology used with USB portable drives which use flash-based non-volatile memory. These drives are mounted into desktops, laptops, or tablet computers. When we talk of virtuous property, they are not magnetically encoded, which further means they are impervious to demagnetization. They are called solid because they do not have moving parts.
Unlike the traditional HDD (Hard Disk Drive), which uses a spinning magnetic metal platter and ahead to read or write data on its memory, an SSD Drive does not have a mechanical arm to read and write data. It uses a controller to read and write data. Some SSDs have inbuilt DRAM to cache essential data.
Three types of SSDs differ from one another by the speed of data transfers. The first one is the flash drive which connects through USB (Universal Serial Bus). The second type is a 2.5 internal SSD connected to the computer's motherboard through the SATA (Serial Attachment) bus like the standard hard drive. The third type of this SSD Drive is (m.2), which looks like RAM sticks and can be connected directly to computers that support it. It can also use the PCIe lanes for connection.
What is an SSD used for?
- SSD's have huge applications in the following areas:
- Gaming- SSD Drive is best for gaming as it improves performance and gaming experience. It is a massive improvement from a traditionally used HDD Drive which had a lagging effect on gaming.
- Servers- enterprises and other large companies need better SSDs to have fast read and writes, ensuring the clients are served in a better way and conveniently.
- Business companies- working with voluminous amounts of data, for example, companies that mine and analyze data, would rely on SSDs for faster access and faster data analysis.
- Mobility- SSDs have low power consumption, thus improved battery life in laptops and tablets. They are also shock-resistant, and therefore they are preferred since they are not prone to data loss.
In general, SSDs are used in notebooks and Linux laptops where lightness and area storage density are desired and boot drives for operating systems, cache drives, database servers, and other applications.
Top Rated Internal SSD Drives of December 2024
1
Rating is 5 out of 5
Samsung SSD 860 EVO 1TB 2.5 Inch SATA III Internal SSD (MZ-76E1T0B/AM)
-
Innovative V-Nand Technology: Powered by Samsung V-Nand Technology, the 860 Evo SSD offers optimized performance for everyday computing as well as rendering large-sized 4K videos and 3D data used by the latest applications
-
Continuity tester/Wire tracer
-
Secure encryption: Protect data by selecting security options, including Aes 256-bit hardware-based encryption compliant with Tcg Opal and Ieee 1667
-
Included contents: 2.5 inches (7 millimeter) SATA 3 (6 GB/S) SSD & user manual (All other cables, screws, brackets not included); Reliability (MTBF): 1.5 Million Hours Reliability (MTBF)
2
Rating is 4.9 out of 5
Seagate BarraCuda Q1 SSD 960GB Internal Solid State Drive – 2.5 Inch SATA 6Gb/s for PC Laptop Upgrade 3D QLC NAND (ZA960CV1A001)
-
Upgrade to affordable SSD performance with next-gen 3D QLC NAND.
-
Leverage a SATA SSD that provides up to 30× faster speeds than hard drives.
-
Easily upgrade with a 2.5x7mm form factor and SATA connection that allows for universal swap out of SATA drives
-
Harness high sequential read/write speeds (up to 550/500) for more responsive downloads, installs, and multitasking.
3
Rating is 4.8 out of 5
Western Digital 1TB WD Green Internal PC SSD Solid State Drive - SATA III 6 Gb/s, 2.5"/7mm, Up to 550 MB/s - WDS100T2G0A
-
SLC (single-level cell) caching boosts write performance to quickly perform everyday tasks
-
Shock-resistant and WD F.I.T. Lab certified for compatibility and reliability
-
Ultra low power-draw so you can use your laptop PC for longer periods of time
-
The free, downloadable WD SSD Dashboard lets you easily monitor the status of your drive
4
Rating is 4.7 out of 5
SanDisk SSD PLUS 1TB Internal SSD - SATA III 6 Gb/s, 2.5"/7mm, Up to 535 MB/s - SDSSDA-1T00-G26
-
Easy upgrade for faster boot up, shutdown, application load and response (As compared to 5400 RPM SATA 2.5” hard drive; Based on published specifications and internal benchmarking tests using PCMrark vantage scores)
-
Boosts burst write performance, making it ideal for typical PC workloads
-
The perfect balance of performance and reliability
-
Read/write speeds of up to 535MB/s/450MB/s (Based on internal testing; Performance may vary depending upon drive capacity, host device, OS and application.)
-
Shock resistant for proven durability: Even if you drop your computer (Shock resistant (up to 1500G) and vibration resistant (5gRMS, 10 2000 HZ/4.9 gRMS, 7 800 HZ), temperature (from 0 degrees Celsius to 70 degrees Celsius))
5
Rating is 4.6 out of 5
Kingston 240GB A400 SATA 3 2.5" Internal SSD SA400S37/240G - HDD Replacement for Increase Performance
-
Fast start up, loading and file transfers
-
More reliable and durable than a hard drive
-
Multiple capacities with space for applications or a hard drive replacement
6
Rating is 4.5 out of 5
SAMSUNG 870 EVO 500GB 2.5 Inch SATA III Internal SSD (MZ-77E500B/AM)
-
THE SSD ALL-STAR: The latest 870 EVO has indisputable performance, reliability and compatibility built upon Samsung's pioneering technology
-
EXCELLENCE IN PERFORMANCE: Enjoy professional level SSD performance with 870 EVO, which maximizes the SATA interface limit to 560/530 MB/s sequential speeds*, Accelerates write speeds and maintains long term high performance with a larger variable buffer
-
INDUSTRY DEFINING RELIABILITY: Meet the demands of every task from everyday computing to 8K video processing, with up to 2,400 TBW** under a 5 year limited warranty***
-
MORE COMPATIBLE THAN EVER: 870 EVO has been compatibility tested for major host systems and applications, including chipsets, motherboards, NAS, and video recording devices****
-
UPGRADE WITH EASE: Simply plug 870 EVO into the standard 2.5 inch SATA form factor on your desktop PC or laptop and let the renewed migration software takes care of the rest
7
Rating is 4.4 out of 5
Crucial MX500 1TB 3D NAND SATA 2.5 Inch Internal SSD, up to 560MB/s - CT1000MX500SSD1
-
Sequential reads/writes up to 560/510 MB/s and random reads/writes up to 95k/90k on all file types
-
Accelerated by Micron 3D NAND technology
-
Integrated power loss Immunity preserves all your saved work if the power unexpectedly gets cut
-
AES 256 bit hardware based encryption keeps data safe and secure from hackers and thieves
8
Rating is 4.3 out of 5
SanDisk - SDSSDH3-1T00-G25 Ultra 3D NAND 1TB Internal SSD - SATA III 6 Gb/s, 2.5"/7mm, Up to 560 MB/s - SDSSDH3-1T00-G25 Black
-
Accelerate your PC for faster boot-up and blazing-fast gaming and graphics
-
Ultra-fast: sequential read speeds of up to 560MB/s; sequential write speeds of up to 530MB/s (Based on internal testing; performance may vary depending upon drive capacity, host device, OS and application. 1 megabyte (MB) = 1,000,000 bytes.)
-
3D NAND provides greater endurance so your drive lasts longer and uses less power
-
nCache 2.0 technology delivers blazing-fast speeds
-
Order with your Alexa enabled device. Just ask "Alexa, order SanDisk Internal SSD."
-
Accelerate your PC for faster boot-up and blazing-fast gaming and graphics
9
Rating is 4.2 out of 5
Samsung 860 QVO 1TB Solid State Drive (MZ-76Q1T0B/AM) V-NAND, SATA 6Gb/s, Quality and Value Optimized SSD
-
Value optimized SSD: Built with Samsung V-NAND Technology, the 860 QVO SSD gives you huge storage, solid performance and reliability with exceptional value
-
Enhanced read write speeds: Sequential read and write performance levels of up to 550MB/s and 520MB/s, respectively
-
Intelligent Turbowrite: Accelerates write speeds and maintains long-term high performance with a larger variable buffer
-
Secure encryption: Protect data by selecting security options, including AES 256-bit hardware-based encryption compliant with TCG Opal and IEEE 1667
10
Rating is 4.1 out of 5
Crucial BX500 1TB 3D NAND SATA 2.5-Inch Internal SSD, up to 540MB/s - CT1000BX500SSD1
-
Boot up faster. Load files quicker. Improve overall system responsiveness
-
300% faster than a typical hard drive
-
Improves battery life because it’s 45x more energy efficient than a typical hard drive
-
Micron 3D NAND – advancing the world's memory and storage technology for 40 years
11
Rating is 4 out of 5
Crucial BX500 2TB 3D NAND SATA 2.5-Inch Internal SSD, up to 540MB/s - CT2000BX500SSD1
-
Boot up faster. Load files quicker. Improve overall system responsiveness
-
300% faster than a typical hard drive
-
Improves battery life because it’s 45x more energy efficient than a typical hard drive
-
Micron 3D NAND – advancing the world's memory and storage technology for 40 years
12
Rating is 3.9 out of 5
Silicon Power 1TB SSD 3D NAND A55 SLC Cache Performance Boost SATA III 2.5" 7mm (0.28") Internal Solid State Drive (SP001TBSS3A55S25)
-
3D NAND flash are applied to deliver high transfer speeds
-
Remarkable transfer speeds that enable faster bootup and improved overall system performance. The advanced SLC Cache Technology allows performance boost and longer lifespan
-
7mm slim design suitable for Ultrabooks and Ultra-slim notebooks.
-
Supports TRIM command, Garbage Collection technology, RAID, and ECC (Error Checking & Correction) to provide the optimized performance and enhanced reliability.
Is SSD better than HDD?
There is no upfront response to this question because there are many variables and trade-offs before deciding individually if an SSD Drive is better than an HDD Drive. Others may argue that an SSD Drive is better because of fast access to programs but let us see why their notion could be wrong.
Price - the price curve of HDD is falling each day, favoring the low-budget individuals. The SSD, on the other hand, is typically sold in dollars per gigabyte, which is more expensive.
Capacity - commercial HDDs' capacities range from 40 GB to 12 TB. You can get lower capacity at lower prices. By this, you are enjoying low prices with larger files. SSDs may be up to 4TB in capacity. The lower one's going for about 160-256GB.
Speed- SSDs have always been faster than traditional hard drives. For example, SATA III hard drive speeds will be around 100MB/s. Average speeds for PCIe or M.2 SSDs will be from 1.2GB/s up to about 1.4GB/s.?
Best PC SSDs at glance
- Toshiba OCZ RD400 – best PCIe SSD
- Silicon Power US70 – best M.2 SSD
- Samsung 860 Pro – best SATA 3 SSD
- HP S700 Pro – best endurance SSD
- Intel 750 Series – best U.2 SSD
- Intel 760p Series SSD – best SSD boot drive
To decide which SSD Drive is the best, ask yourself, what is the PC being used for? For Gaming? For CCTV storage? For Office work? The main reason to use M.2 is for the throughput performance, which is four times that of a 2.5 internal SSD, but the storage cost is higher on M.2 and lower on SATA HDDs. Desktop for office applications may have one M.2 512GB for OS, two 2.5 internal SSDs for office apps and files, and two larger HDDs 8TB for videos, pictures, and backups.
Can a laptop have both SSD and HDD?
Yes, for sure, you can use an SSD and HDD for laptop computer if it has an SSD slot in it. For old generation laptops, they may not have SSD slots. Most recent generation laptops in the market have both HDD and SSD pre-installed. Some create an empty slot for SSD, which will then allow expansion. For laptop computer, if you are lucky to have an HDD and an SSD and you are not aware where to install the operating system? I recommend installing it in an SSD because an SSD is on average eight times better in speed than an HDD.
How much SSD is enough?
This question depends on the field you are pursuing; programmers may need a different SSD Drive capacity from gaming designers. Therefore, this question will depend on your area of interest. If we consider programmers running Android studio, they may need 512 GB of SSD Drive. Gamers who use a blender and other software to create videos may need a different package depending on the software's space and the plugins they will need to use.
