In the following guide, you will learn how to use and install an HDD and SSD together on the same PC to optimize your computer.
What are the main differences between an HDD and an SSD?
SSDs (Solid State Drive) are an alternative to hard drives. The big difference is that hard drives use moving mechanical components, while SSDs store information on microchips that have fast memories connected from the inside to each other.
For its part, HDDs ( Hard Drive Disks ) are computer components that use a permanent way to store data. It means that the information is not erased when the disk is turned off as it is with the RAM and its compiled memory.
The SSD has a capacity of between 256GB and 4TB. The HDD has a capacity of between 1 and 10TB. However, the HDD is cheaper, although it has higher consumption.
SSDs are modern. Therefore it is considered normal that their price is higher.
Is it possible to use an HDD and an SSD at the same time in a computer?
There is no limitation to put an HDD and an SSD in the same PC. In fact, it is best to use high-speed drives such as SSD or NVME to install the operating system and essential programs. This greatly improves the user experience.
You should use the SSD to install the operating system. This will make the system boot much faster and also the loading of the applications.
On the other hand, a mechanical hard drive will be very useful for storing many files, such as music, videos, movies, and even video games. Certainly, each disk has its advantages. However, first, you should know if your hard disk is HDD or SSD if you have this doubt.
In conclusion, It is possible to install an HDD disk and an SSD disk together on the same computer. It is a good option to combine SSD and HDD since each one has its characteristics with advantages and its function within the device.
What are the advantages of installing an HDD hard drive?
HDD hard drives are very inexpensive, at least the most basic models. This represents a great advantage compared to SSD disks, so they are possibly the best choice if you are looking for space.
HDDs also stand out for offering more storage for the price you pay. For example, buying a 2 TB hard drive usually costs less than $ 100. On the other hand, SSDs can cost twice as much or even more.
By having mechanical parts, the HDD also has the magnetism to record data and files.
These hard drives are typically rated at 5400 or 7200 RPM (revolutions per minute), while some server-based drives can be as high as 15,000 RPM.
Mechanical hard drive enclosures can be 2.5 “or 3.5”. That is why its price may vary depending on the size, although even more so for its storage capacity.
It should be noted that the difference in which it has the most advantage compared to SSDs is the price since these are much cheaper.
What are the benefits of installing an SSD on a PC?
The main advantage of SSDs is that they are very fast. This is their main attraction. This condition makes them exceptional for heavy work, as application loading is usually very fast.
It is highly recommended to install the computer’s operating system on an SSD disk. This has been shown to improve the startup and loading of basic applications, which can be very useful for those who work on a PC.
Their main disadvantage is that they tend to be more expensive than hard drives. Either way, using an SSD disk and an HDD usually represents the best balance for your computer.
SSDs mostly use fast memories based on NAND, which are also non-volatile since they retain information that is saved when the disk is disconnected.
Likewise, they do not have physical heads to record the data since they have an integrated processor to execute operations related to the reading and writing of data.
These drives are known because they tend to be 2.5 “. They are designed almost like mechanical hard drives, which helps them fit into the same cases.
Use and install a hard drive HDD and SSD together
As we have already mentioned before, installing an HDD and SSD hard drive on the same computer is perfectly possible. In fact, it is the most recommended, even so, you have to consider certain things to do it.
First, buy the storage units based on what you want to achieve. Usually, a 240 GB SSD is enough to store the operating system and basic programs. But for other circumstances, it may be little space.
For example, if you want to install a game that you play constantly, you may require a little more storage. On the other hand, the HDD hard drive is more recommended for storing multimedia files, although it is usually an excellent choice for storing games. In other words, the HDD disk will be the one to which the most space will be dedicated.
Process to install HDD and SSD together on your computer
- As for installing an SSD hard drive and HDD, the process is usually not complicated. You should make the necessary internal connections for each of the disks.
- After that, set the SSD as the boot disk and the HDD as the secondary storage unit.
- After making this configuration when entering the BIOS, you must continue with the Windows installation process from scratch.
- Then, it is time to install the drivers and other necessary programs. Certainly, you should not make major configurations since the installation processes are currently very simple.
- The secondary disk, that is, the HDD disk, may not be displayed. If so, go to the start and type ” Create and format hard drive partitions .”
- Here all the drives will be shown, including the HDD. Click on it and select ” Convert to basic disk. “
- Now, click on the available space and select ” New Simple Volume. “ Click on “Next” until the process is finished and the disk will appear on your computer.
