Especially if you used computers throughout the ’90s and early 2000s, you’re probably fed up with loading time. Usually accompanied by an animated hourglass or other equally effective metaphor for your life being slowly drained, watching your computer load is a pure waste of time. That is why solid-state drives, also called SSDs are a godsend.

A huge improvement from disk-based hard drives, SSDs are capable of loading data much faster, resulting in across the board performance improvements, especially when first booting into the operating system. Of course, SSDs cost more than their disk-based counterparts, but prices are coming down all the time. Here are our tips on shopping for a good deal on an SSD for your computer.

Why You Should Buy a Cheap SSD Under $50

Those who’ve never used an SSD before need to know the impressive benefits it comes with. Not all areas of an SSD are superior to a hard drive. For example, SSDs are more expensive than hard drives. They are also smaller in storage capacity for the same price. However, this is where the line is drawn for the drawbacks of an SSD. A solid-state drive comes with considerable benefits.

Data Access Time

The first characteristic of an SSD compared to a hard drive is speed performance. It is the main reason many users prefer to update their laptops with an SSD before choosing to purchase a new laptop altogether. At the same time, it can indicate the performance expected in all types of software.

The fastest data transfer speeds are highly suitable for gaming and watching movies. Editing and professional use can also benefit from an SSD. Any video editing will immediately come with considerable speed improvements.

While the memory of an SSD is smaller in most cases, the drive can still offer a better user experience strictly through speed. Even web navigation becomes faster, which is a good enough reason to upgrade all laptops and desktops still using a hard drive.

Durability

From a durability perspective, there is no competition. A classic hard drive has moving parts that can break at any moment. An SSD has no moving parts, and as a result, it is more durable. Without moving parts, it also doesn’t heat up. This is why SSDs are used for years at a time.

However, even SSDs are not perfect. They can show signs of wear, basically when reaching their maximum hours of use or when reaching their maximum level of reading/write data transfer. In most cases, an SSD will work for millions of hours, and it will outlast the laptop itself.

Power Consumption

Power consumption is crucial in a world where green energy is discussed more and more. SSDs are not saving the world’s power problems. However, they can come with 25% better power consumption results, which can be a lot when working on a laptop’s battery.

There are a few situations in which the power consumption of the SSD is further recommended. Those taking their laptops to classes or conferences can benefit from the extra power. In the same environments, the quiet operation of an SSD fits like a glove.

There are multiple elements where power consumption can also prove useful in a longer battery cycle before recharging. This is why traveling with a laptop is easier when there’s longer battery life and when the laptop doesn’t need to work as hard to cool down its components.

Magnetism

Magnetism is one of the safety issues SSDs are rarely credited with. This has been an issue often discussed in comparison with a hard drive. Simply put, if a person were to use a powerful magnet on a hard drive, its data would be erased instantly. This is not the case with an SSD.

This is why vital data such as data on servers can be further protected by storing it on SSDs. But even personal use laptops can benefit from such tools as even many business owners keep important information on their laptops.

Noise Levels

With lower noise levels, it is simply more pleasant to use a laptop. It is the case that many users don’t even acknowledge this as a problem. However, it is very rare for someone to go back to a hard drive from an SSD. Noise levels are one of the reasons this rarely happens.

Since the low noise operation is more comfortable to handle, this means that an SSD is also a good solution at conferences and at the workplace, where multiple hard drives can increase overall discomfort through higher noise.

Size

The size of the actual SSD is smaller compared to a hard drive. This also means its weight is lighter as well. As a result, traveling with an SSD laptop or ultra-book is more comfortable. At the same time, it is important to note that some of the moment’s leading options are made for those who seek optimum performance, especially when it comes to having a transferable drive that can be fitted even on the thinnest laptops. But even if its size is smaller, an SSD still fits desktop computers, maintaining the same benefits as those seen on laptops. 

FAQ

Will an SSD Fit My Laptop?

Most SSDs fit laptops. Those unsure about the compatibility of an SSD can quickly check with customer support having the exact laptop model at hand.

How Can I Open up My Hard Drive Compartment?

The hard drive compartment of a laptop can open in different ways. In some cases, it is just a small compartment that opens with a screwdriver on the laptop’s back. In other situations, users are required to remove the entire bottom cover of the laptop to install an SSD.

Do I Need to Plug a Power Cable in an SSD?

No. Modern SSD drives are powered directly from the laptop, with no additional power needed.

What Is Read and Write Speed?

Read and write speeds refer to the time it takes to access saved files, and to the time it takes to save files on the drive.

Why Is Power Consumption Important?

Laptops have multiple power consumers. This is why battery life can be improved with low power components.

Will an Old Laptop Work Faster With an SSD?

Most old laptops can see a speed improvement when upgrading a hard drive to an SSD. However, other components such as the processor or the RAM play their role in speed as well.

Can I Use an SSD for Gaming?

SSDs shine in gaming. They are recommended for quick data access, which means lag can be eliminated compared to playing games from a hard drive.

Is an SSD Suitable for Office Use?

A solid-state drive is certainly useful in office environments. Since there’s no overheating to worry about, SSDs can work long hours in a day.

Final Words

For many users, having the freedom to access the data quickly is important. In fact, this has been one of the main drivers of technology improvements. From loading games faster to actually browsing the web smoother, these types of improvements have been considerable even over the past decade.

There are many types of cheap SSDs under $50, and many of them have similar characteristics, such as speed. However, there are differences as well. As seen with the SSDs above, these differences come in reading/write speed, power consumption, and even in size, as in the case of the ultra-book compatibles drives.

Some of the best SSDs at the moment are not expensive. This means the cheap drives work great for computer hardware updates. Without spending too much, many users can considerably improve the performance of their laptops and desktops. This is why it’s often worth investing in the solutions which offer the best return on investment. 

In the case of laptops, hard drives are among the components which are the cheapest to replace and which show the most improvements in speed. The good news is most SSDs can be installed at home. Even installing a drive on a laptop can be made with no help without sending it over to a computer repair shop.