SD cards and hard drives are two of the most common types of storage devices used with cameras, mobile devices, and computers. Both have advantages and disadvantages when it comes to factors like storage capacity, physical size, cost, speed, durability, portability, compatibility, and security.
SD cards use flash memory and have no moving parts, making them smaller and more portable than hard drives. Hard drives have higher maximum capacities and are cheaper per gigabyte. SD cards are more durable, while hard drives are faster and offer more security features. When choosing between the two, it depends on your specific needs and priorities.
Storage Capacity
When it comes to maximum storage capacity, hard drives have traditionally had the advantage over SD cards. Standard internal hard drives can range from 500GB to 10TB for desktop computers, and around 500GB to 2TB for laptops. External portable hard drives generally max out around 2-4TB.
SD cards currently max out at 1TB for SDXC cards and 2TB for SDUC cards. So in terms of absolute maximum capacity, hard drives still have the upper hand. However, capacities continue to increase for both storage mediums. While a 10TB hard drive offers more total storage, a 1-2TB SD card is still sufficient for most everyday consumer needs like photos, videos, music, documents, etc (Source).
It’s also worth noting that as SD card capacities increase, their relative value compared to hard drives improves. A 1TB SD card is much more portable than a 1TB hard drive. So while hard drives offer more total storage, SD cards can meet many storage needs while prioritizing portability.
Physical Size
When comparing SD cards and hard drives, one of the key differences is their physical size. SD cards are much smaller and more compact, with standard sizes ranging from 1 x 1 cm up to 2.1 x 1.5 cm. In contrast, hard drives have larger physical dimensions, typically around 10 x 7 x 2 cm for portable external hard drives. This makes SD cards better suited for use in small, portable devices like phones, cameras, and handheld gaming systems where space is limited. Hard drives, with their larger size, are better suited for use in desktop computers and gaming consoles where there is more room to accommodate them. The small size of SD cards also makes them easy to transport and store, while hard drives are bulkier. However, the larger physical size of hard drives also allows them to offer more storage capacity. So in summary, if physical size is a priority, SD cards have a clear advantage, but hard drives offer more room for greater storage capacity.
Sources:
https://gbatemp.net/threads/wii-u-sd-card-size-hard-drive-size.499702/
https://www.reddit.com/r/wii/comments/k49xrl/wii_hard_drive_size/
Cost
When looking at cost per gigabyte (GB) of storage, hard drives tend to be cheaper than SD cards. The average cost per GB for a hard drive is around $0.014, with prices as low as $0.010 per GB for larger capacity drives according to Disk Prices. In comparison, high capacity SD cards can cost upwards of $0.25 per GB.
For example, a 1TB hard drive costs around $50 which works out to $0.05 per GB. A 1TB SD card on the other hand costs around $250, or $0.25 per GB. As storage capacities increase, hard drives maintain a lower cost per GB while SD cards remain relatively expensive.
The manufacturing process for hard drives allows them to reach much higher capacities like 10TB+ for a reasonable price. SD cards max out around 1-2TB currently. So when you look at sheer bulk storage potential, hard drives deliver far more storage capacity per dollar spent according to this Backblaze analysis.
Speed
SD cards tend to have much slower read and write speeds compared to hard drives. According to benchmarks, many SD cards top out at <100 MB/s sequential read and <50 MB/s sequential write speeds. In comparison, modern internal hard drives commonly offer read/write speeds in the range of 100-200 MB/s. Some high performance solid state drives (SSDs) can reach sequential read/write speeds over 500 MB/s.
This means loading and saving files will be noticeably faster on a hard drive compared to SD card in most cases. However, there are high speed SD cards available that can match hard drive speeds. For example, the SanDisk Extreme Pro SD card offers up to 300 MB/s read and 260 MB/s write speeds, which makes it comparable to a fast SSD. But these high performance SD cards cost much more than standard models.
In summary, traditional hard drives tend to be faster for sequential file transfers, but high speed SD cards are available that can match hard drive performance. However, most average SD cards max out at <100 MB/s, which is 2-5x slower than a modern hard drive.
Durability
SD cards are generally more durable and have a longer lifespan than hard drives. SD cards have no moving parts and are shock and vibration resistant, making them less prone to mechanical failure. According to Reddit users and computer experts, dropping an SD card is unlikely to damage it, while a hard drive could easily fail if dropped due to its internal spinning discs and read/write heads.[1]
One key difference is that SD cards can withstand far more read/write cycles before failure compared to hard drives. SD cards are typically rated for anywhere from 10,000 to 1 million write cycles, while hard drives are only rated for about 600,000 hours of use (about 68 years at 24/7 operation).[2]
However, SD cards are still susceptible to data corruption and failure over time. Overall, SD cards have a longer lifespan, estimated around 10 years, while hard drives typically last 3-5 years.[3] Proper storage conditions are important for longevity of both storage media.
Portability
When it comes to portability and ease of transport, SD cards have a clear advantage over external hard drives. SD cards are tiny, lightweight and easily slip into your pocket or camera bag. In comparison, external hard drives, even portable ones, are larger and heavier. Though portable hard drives are designed for transport, they are still bulkier than an SD card.
The small size of SD cards makes them extremely convenient to take anywhere. Photographers and videographers often carry multiple SD cards with them, while swapping out a hard drive on the go is less feasible. The weight difference is also substantial – a 1TB SD card weighs around 0.5 oz whereas a 1TB portable HDD weighs close to 5 oz.
SD cards also don’t require any cables to connect, unlike portable HDDs which need a cable to connect to devices. The lack of cables makes SD cards more portable and less prone to damage. However, portable hard drives offer more protection with their sturdy casing.
In summary, when it comes to ease of carrying while traveling and portability, SD cards easily win over portable hard drives. Their tiny size and weight makes them the preferred choice for portability.
Compatibility
When it comes to compatibility, SD cards have the advantage. SD cards are designed to work with a wide range of devices including cameras, phones, tablets, and other mobile devices. Most devices nowadays come with an SD card slot built-in, making SD cards a convenient storage option. Hard drives usually require an external dock or enclosure to connect to devices, and are mainly designed to work with computers (1).
However, hard drives do have some compatibility advantages as well. For desktop computers, hard drives can be installed internally and most desktops have bays to accommodate multiple hard drives. Hard drives are also compatible with network attached storage (NAS) devices, allowing you to access data over a local network (2).
Overall, if you need portable storage to transfer between devices, SD cards offer better plug-and-play compatibility. But for expanding storage on a desktop PC or NAS system, a hard drive is the way to go.
(1) https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1277614/Lilin-Dhd204.html?page=83
(2) https://digital-forums.com/showthread.php/642036-AceKard-Compatibility
Security
When it comes to security, both SD cards and hard drives have advantages and disadvantages. SD cards are small, portable, and can easily be locked away when not in use. However, they are also easier to misplace or have stolen. Hard drives offer more storage capacity, allowing you to store more video footage locally before needing to overwrite old data. But hard drives in a desktop PC or DVR may be less physically secure. Overall, both can provide reasonable security if configured properly – using encryption, access controls, and physical control measures. But SD cards make it easier to store your data in a more secure location.
Some key differences in security features include:
- SD cards can be encrypted, password protected, and physically locked up when not recording. But hard drives have more advanced encryption options.
- SD cards can be easily removed and stored securely. Hard drives in a DVR system remain in place.
- SD cards get max capacity from internal storage. Hard drives can use RAID arrays for redundancy.
- SD cards avoid network connections. Hard drives can expose recordings over a LAN.
Overall, SD cards make it easier to maintain physical control and remove storage devices when not needed. But hard drives offer more advanced encryption and redundancy when secured properly in a well-designed system.
Conclusion
In conclusion, both SD cards and hard drives have their advantages and disadvantages when it comes to storage capacity, physical size, cost, speed, durability, portability, compatibility, and security. SD cards tend to have lower storage capacity but take up less physical space, while hard drives offer more storage capacity in a larger form factor. Hard drives used to be significantly cheaper per gigabyte than SD cards, but prices have come down on high capacity SD cards to be more competitive. For speed, high-end SD cards can outpace hard drives for read/write times, but have slower speeds at lower capacities. SD cards are more durable against physical shocks with no moving parts but are still susceptible to data corruption. Both options provide good portability, but SD cards are extremely small and convenient. SD cards have wider device compatibility, especially with consumer electronics and mobile devices, while hard drives require a reader or cable. Hard drives generally provide more built-in security features like encryption compared to basic SD cards. For many users, the ideal solution is to use an SD card in tandem with a hard drive – taking advantage of the portability, speed, and convenience of the SD card while using the hard drive for expanded affordable storage and backup. In the end, careful consideration should be given to the specific needs and use cases when deciding between these two common storage solutions.
