HDD vs SSD Dedicated Server – The Differences Might Surprise You

When you want to rent a dedicated server, you’ll have to choose between HDD and SSD storage. Both options allow you to keep large quantities of files, apps or media elements. However, they’re made for different purposes. In this article, you’ll understand the difference and what solution is appropriate for your business.

What is HDD hosting?

The technology behind HDDs isn’t new. On the contrary, it has been used since 1950. During the same time, you could find computers, laptops and servers that worked in that way. Any HDD has a metal disc with a thin magnet that stores all the data. A reading arm inside provides rotation, the speed being measured in RPM(revolutions per minute). While hosting providers used mainly HDDs in their packages when the internet started, it’s not so common anymore.

What is SSD hosting?

Unlike HDDs, SSDs were officially introduced in computers from 2009. They were appreciated and gained popularity because of the way they worked. Any SSD is based on the flash memory and doesn’t have moving parts. For the same reason, they’re considered faster and are better at processing a lot of information in a short time. The SSD hosting has become almost a standard in the market, many providers deciding to give up on HDDs.

Speed and performance

If you run a high-traffic website, speed is an important factor to keep your visitors happy. HDD transfers the data after the driving head rotates around the disc. A dedicated hosting with SSD will not involve physical components during the process, so it takes less time to show content. The speed difference between hard disks and solid state drives is significant. SSDs are extremely fast, especially when you deal with too much traffic or huge files. So, it’s obvious who’s the winner here.

Security and reliability

Most HDDs will experience data failure at a certain point. It’s not hard to guess why, since moving parts don’t last forever. However, most SSDs will last years or even decades without needing any repairs. Because the technology can be made with different types of chips, memory cells and designs, you also have versatility. HDDs are dependent on DDR3 memory chips, so it’s a disadvantage.

Storage capacity

If you have lots of files on your website or apps, you should know that dedicated servers with SSD can get expensive pretty fast. For creators with high data capacity needs, the costs will add up. HDDs are better for managing larger amounts of storage, as long as speed isn’t an issue for you.

Pricing

HDDs cost less than SSDs, so you’ll find many dedicated servers that are cheaper than you expected. This might be the biggest drawback of SSD, because not everyone wants to get the best quality. While the new technology justifies a bigger investment, you can expect to spend a lot less if you opt for an HDD. If price is a big deciding factor, you should know what plans are the right ones for smaller budgets.

Which technology is better?

Those who are searching for the best hosting solution and high performances should go with SSDs technology. On the other hand, if you’re interested in having lots of space, HDDs would be better. Decide which one you choose for your dedicated according to your own needs and preferences.