In the early days of personal computing, a hard drive was an absolute necessity for a functional PC. Operating systems and programs required local storage space that only a hard drive could provide. But with the rise of cloud computing, solid state drives, and external storage options, the role of the hard drive in modern PCs has changed.
What is a hard drive?
A hard disk drive (HDD) is a data storage device that uses magnetic storage to store and retrieve digital information. Hard drives have rotating platters that spin at very high speeds, with read/write heads that access data on the platters. Compared to solid state drives which have no moving parts, hard drives are mechanical devices.
Hard drives have traditionally been used as the primary storage component in desktop and laptop PCs. The operating system, programs, and data are all stored on the hard drive. An internal hard drive is directly connected to the motherboard via SATA or IDE cabling within the computer case.
Common hard drive capacities today range from 500GB to several terabytes (TB). Desktop hard drives are usually 3.5″ wide, while laptop hard drives are 2.5″. Speeds range from 5,400 rpm on budget drives to 10,000 or 15,000 rpm on high performance models. Faster drives allow quicker access to data.
The early necessity of hard drives
In the 1970s and 1980s when home computers like the Apple II and Commodore 64 first emerged, programs and data were stored on floppy disks. But floppy disks had very little capacity – only 140KB on early disks. This limited how much data a user could have quick access to. The first hard drives, developed by IBM in the 1950s, were not adopted in home computers until later.
But as operating systems advanced in the 1990s and 2000s, from DOS to Windows and Mac OS, there became a need for more local storage space. Hard drives were the solution. Having an internal hard drive became standard, allowing users to install programs, store files, and use the computer without constantly swapping floppy disks.
Hard drives gave personal computers the storage capacity needed for modern operating systems, software applications, and file storage needs of both home and business users. Hard drives allowed average users to store meaningful amounts of data locally on their machine.
The rise of alternatives
While hard drives enjoyed years as the default and only real storage solution for PCs, some new technologies have emerged as alternatives:
- Solid state drives – SSDs store data on flash memory chips rather than magnetic platters. SSDs have faster access speeds, better durability and shock resistance. But they are more expensive per gigabyte than HDDs.
- Cloud storage – Services like Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive and iCloud allow users to store their files remotely “in the cloud.” This removes the need for large local hard drive storage, but requires an internet connection to access data.
- External hard drives – Portable external HDDs can be plugged into PCs via USB, providing additional storage capacity without needing an internal drive upgrade.
With these new options available, hard drives are no longer the only way PCs can have adequate storage space. Users now have more choice in how they manage storage.
Do you need a hard drive in a modern PC?
With the ability to run programs and store files without relying solely on a hard drive, could a PC operate without one? Let’s look at some scenarios:
Using cloud storage
For general home and office tasks, a PC with just an SSD and no HDD may be sufficient provided the user primarily utilizes cloud storage services. Google’s Chromebook laptops often have only small SSDs paired with Google Drive integration.
However, there are some downsides to fully cloud-based storage:
- You must have an active internet connection to access files, which is not always guaranteed.
- Transferring large amounts of data to the cloud is slower than local storage.
- Ongoing paid subscriptions may be required for adequate storage capacity.
Using external drives
Alternatively, a PC can augment internal SSD storage with external hard drives or solid state drives connected as needed via USB. External drives today have huge capacities up to 16TB. This approach offers flexibility and the ability to keep data localized for quick access.
Potential issues with external drive-only storage:
- External drives need to be connected manually when accessing data, adding an extra step compared to always-present internal storage.
- External drives are easier to physically lose or damage compared to internal drives in a desktop or laptop chassis.
Operating system limitations
Many modern PC operating systems may technically be able to run without an internal hard drive today. But most mainstream operating systems still have baked-in assumptions that a local drive will be present:
| OS | Hard Drive Requirements |
| Windows 10/11 | Requires internal drive for initial install. External drive can supplement. |
| macOS | Requires SSD/fusion drive. External can supplement. |
| Chrome OS | Designed for primary usage with cloud storage. |
| Linux | More flexible, but storage needed for programs and swap space. |
Though many alternative storage options are available, fully eliminating the need for any type of local storage remains challenging with today’s major desktop operating systems.
Is an HDD necessary for gaming?
For a gaming PC, HDDs still play an important role despite the rise of SSDs. Games have ballooned in size – Call of Duty: Modern Warfare requires up to 250GB, for example. Fitting your whole game library on a high-capacity but expensive SSD is not realistic for many gamers.
Having a smaller SSD to run the operating system and a few key games, paired with a large 2TB or 4TB HDD for bulk storage, is a popular setup. Smaller SSDs also tend to be faster than large ones. With this combo, gamers can enjoy fast speeds for active games while keeping the rest of their library readily accessible.
Conclusion
While hard drives are no longer an absolute requirement in PCs thanks to alternative storage options, they still remain highly useful and widely used:
- HDDs provide abundant local storage at the lowest cost per gigabyte.
- In a desktop or laptop PC, having some amount of internal storage is still assumed by operating systems.
- For gaming and professional workstation uses, HDDs store large amounts of data economically.
Hard drives and solid state drives are complementary technologies, each with strengths and weaknesses. Using them together in a single PC or via external enclosures provides a balance of speed, capacity, and affordability that neither can match alone. While strictly necessary, hard drives deliver capabilities that boost most PCs.