With the constant need for more digital storage space, many people find themselves trying to decide between purchasing an external hard drive or a solid state drive (SSD). Both options provide additional storage capacity, but they differ in speed, portability, durability and cost. Choosing the right storage solution depends on your specific needs and budget.
What is an external hard drive?
An external hard drive is a traditional spinning hard drive that is connected to a computer externally, rather than enclosed within the computer’s casing. External hard drives connect to PCs and Macs via USB, Firewire, eSATA, or wirelessly. They provide extra storage space for users to back up data, store large files like photos and videos, or offload data from their computer’s internal drive.
External hard drives come in a range of storage capacities, from 500GB to 10TB or more. Storage refers to how much data the drive can hold. 1TB (terabyte) can hold about 500 hours of HD movies. Most external hard drives use a 3.5-inch disk inside the drive enclosure, similar to the internal hard disk inside a computer. However, smaller 2.5-inch drives are also available for external use, usually with less storage capacity.
Advantages of external hard drives
Large storage capacity
External hard drives provide expansive storage for a relatively low cost per TB. Storage capacities available have grown tremendously over the years, from just a few GB to 10TB or more today. For less than $100, you can add 1-2TB of extra storage to your computer. The large capacities available make external hard drives ideal for storing large media files and entire system backups.
Portability & access
The external design makes these drives very portable. You can easily disconnect it from one computer and connect it to another via USB, taking all your files and data with you anywhere. External hard drives also allow easy sharing of large files between computers. Simply connect to any computer or TV to instantly access your files, photos, videos, etc.
Reliability
Hard disk drives (HDDs) have been around for decades and have proven very reliable over the years if handled properly. While no storage drive lasts forever, external hard drives tend to last a reasonably long time with proper care and handling. Manufacturers typically provide 1-3 years warranty on external hard drives.
Affordability
External hard drives offer more storage for less money compared to SSDs. HHDs have become very affordable, with 1TB costing as low as $50 and 2TB for less than $100. Higher capacity 4TB+ desktop drives are available for under $100. This makes them a cost-effective way to expand storage.
Disadvantages of external hard drives
Slower speeds
The biggest disadvantage of external hard drives is their slower speed compared to internal hard drives and SSDs. External HDDs are limited by the speed of the USB or connection interface. Transfer speeds max out around 5 Gbit/s for USB 3.0, compared to SSD internally in a computer at over 500 MB/s. This means moving large files to and from the external drive will take much longer.
Moving parts risks
Since traditional hard drives have moving platters and heads to read/write data, they are more susceptible to damage from drops, bumps, shocks, vibrations, etc. This can lead to lost or corrupted data. SSDs have no moving parts and better withstand shock.
Requires power source
External hard drives require an external power source to operate, usually via USB cable. This means you need access to an outlet to use them. In contrast, smaller SSDs can run off just USB power. Larger desktop external HDDs may require a separate AC adapter power cord.
Not always portable
While smaller portable external HDDs are very movable, the larger multi-TB desktop models are bulky and heavy. If you want to move them often, you’ll need to unplug all the cords each time. Larger external drives with a power adapter also require an available outlet wherever you move them.
What is a solid state drive (SSD)?
A solid state drive (SSD) is a storage device that uses flash memory chips to store data, rather than a spinning hard disk. Flash memory is much faster at reading and writing data compared to HDD platters. SSDs have very fast access times and transfer speeds compared to HDDs.
SSDs contain no moving parts, making them less prone to mechanical failures from vibration, movement, drops, etc. Modern SSDs also have a very high durability rating for writes. They are shock and vibration-resistant.
Like external hard drives, external SSDs connect via USB, Thunderbolt, Firewire, etc. to add extra storage capacity and transfer files. Internal SSDs can be installed to replace or supplement a computer’s main hard drive. Popular uses for SSDs include boosting PC performance, running programs quickly, and fast access to games, photos, video files, etc.
Advantages of SSDs
Faster speeds
The biggest benefit of SSDs is the faster speed compared to HDDs. SSDs can read and write data anywhere from 2-20 times faster than external hard drives. Their internal transfer speeds exceed 500 MB/s compared to HDDs’ ~100 MB/s.
This performance advantage makes a noticeable difference when booting up PCs, launching programs, loading game levels, and transferring files. Everything happens nearly instantaneously with an SSD. Upgrading to an SSD provides an easy speed boost for older computers.
More durable
With no moving parts, SSDs better withstand movement and shocks while operating. Drops, bumps, vibrations normally do not affect SSDs. They have fewer points of mechanical failure compared to traditional hard drives. Solid state drives are better suited for mobile use in laptops.
Compact size
With storage capacities growing while component sizes shrink, external SSDs are quite small and portable. High-capacity 2TB portable SSDs are about the size of a credit card and smartphone, making them very easy to tuck into a bag or pocket. The compact size also allows easy mounting behind a monitor or TV.
Cool and quiet
SSDs run silent and much cooler than external hard drives. There is no spin-up clicking noise when accessing data. The lack of moving parts also results in lower power draw, adding to the quiet operation.
Disadvantages of SSDs
Higher cost per GB
The tradeoff for all the performance benefits of SSDs is higher cost per gigabyte compared to hard drives. While the gap is narrowing as SSD prices drop, HDDs still offer more storage capacity for the money. The cost per GB for SSDs is roughly 2-5x higher than external hard drives.
Limited capacities
While capacities are growing, SSDs still max out at 2-4TB for external drives. Hard drives go much higher – 10TB and beyond for desktop models. If you need a massive amount of storage, HDDs are a more cost-effective solution.
Potential slowdowns
SSDs lose performance as they approach full storage capacity. More free space allows controllers to distribute writes across more NAND chips simultaneously. As capacity fills up, the write speeds will decrease. However, the max speed is still faster than hard drives.
Comparing External HDDs vs. SSDs
Speed
SSDs are clear winners for speed. External SSDs read and write data much faster than external hard drives due to the technologies used:
| Drive Type | Read Speed | Write Speed |
|---|---|---|
| External HDD | Up to 200 MB/s | Up to 100 MB/s |
| External SSD | Up to 550 MB/s | Up to 500 MB/s |
SSD speeds can exceed SATA 3.0 interface limits if using USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 or Thunderbolt 3. Overall, external SSDs will transfer large files in a fraction of the time of HDDs.
Storage Capacity
For storage capacity, external hard drives are better value. Here are typical capacity ranges:
| Drive Type | Capacity Range |
|---|---|
| External HDD | 500GB – 16TB+ |
| External SSD | 250GB – 4TB |
As you go up in TBs, the price per GB remains much lower for HDDs compared to SSDs. You can get 8TB+ external hard drives at under $150, while 4TB SSDs still cost over $400.
Durability
SSDs win for durability thanks to a lack of moving parts and shock-resistant construction. HDDs are still fairly durable with proper care and handling, but more vulnerable to damage from drops, vibration, power failures, etc.
Portability
External SSDs are more portable due to compact sizes. Hard drives come in larger desktop and portable sizes. Larger capacity HDDs require an AC adapter, while smaller SSDs can run off USB power.
Tips for choosing between an external HDD and SSD
Consider the following when deciding between an external hard drive versus SSD:
– If you need lots of storage on a budget, choose an external hard drive. Higher capacities are much cheaper for HDDs.
– Go with an SSD if top-speed transfer rates are critical for your external storage needs.
– Look at portable external SSDs if you plan to move the drive frequently and want durability.
– Check that your computer’s ports can support the speeds of an external SSD if choosing one. USB 3.0 and USB-C are best.
– Make sure any drive is compatible with your operating system – Windows, Mac, Chromebook, Linux, etc. Check required formats.
– Consider getting an SSD for your most-used files and programs if adding internal storage to a desktop PC or laptop. Use a HDD for mass storage.
– An external HDD backup drive complements a computer’s internal SSD nicely for extra storage.
– For gaming, external SSDs load games levels faster. HDDs are fine for storing large game libraries.
– Solid state drives consume less power and run silent – advantages for small, quiet PCs.
– Always eject and disconnect external drives properly to avoid data corruption or damage.
Conclusion
In general, external SSDs are better for quickly transferring and running programs, games, and files from external storage. The speeds, compact size, durability, and silent operation give SSDs the edge. But external hard drives remain a cost-effective solution for mass storage and backups. For large photo, video, and media libraries where fast access is less critical, multi-TB HDDs have the cost advantage.
Consider mixing external SSDs and HDDs to get the ideal blend of speed, capacity, and value for your storage needs. Use SSDs for your operating system, programs, current projects, and active working files that benefit from speed. Use HDDs for archiving older files, backups, and media libraries where capacity is more important than speed. By balancing the strengths of both drive technologies, you can build an ideal and versatile external storage solution.