Differences between SSDs and HDDs and the future of storage devices

You know the benefits of Intel® Solid-State Drives (SSDs). They're rugged. They're responsive. They're reliable. And now, the latest SSD from Intel—the Intel® SSD 520 series—provides great performance and fast speeds. But before we get into the nitty-gritty, let's review exactly what SSDs are and what they can do for user.

SSDs—An Overview

SSDs serve the same purpose as hard disk drives (HDDs)—they store data. However, the similarities end there. The main difference is that HDDs are electromechanical and use moving parts—a spinning magnetic disk and a moving read/write head.

Hard disk drives are also slower than SSDs because they can only read or write information once those moving parts are in place. In contrast, SSDs have no moving parts and begin storing or reading information immediately (there's no waiting for those moving parts!).

Other differences between SSDs and HDDs include:

Magnets have no effect on data stored on SSDs.

SSDs make virtually no noise (due to no moving parts) and consume very little power.

SSDs are rugged and very resistant to shocks and drops.

SSDs boot up fast and shut down quickly.

New Levels of Performance

Intel® SSDs continue to evolve with the Intel® SSD 520 series. Available in a wide range of capacities with an industry-leading 5-year warranty, these SSDs offer built-in data protection features and deliver exceptional 6 gigabit per second (Gb/s) performance.

The Intel® SSD 520 series provides new levels of performance and can read large and small files super fast—up to 550 megabytes per second (MB/s) for large files and 50,000 input/output operations per second (IOPS) for small files1. Couple that read performance with random writes up to 60,000 IOPS2 and sequential writes of 520 MB/s1 and user will blaze through the most demanding applications and handle intense multi-tasking with ease.

Superior Data Protection Features

The new Intel® SSD 520 series also offers superior data protection features, such as Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 256-bit encryption capabilities. So, user who experience loss or theft of their computers will enjoy the peace of mind that their personal data is more safe and secure. Plus, the Intel® SSD 520 series contains end-to-end data protection, which ensures the integrity of stored data from the computer to the SSD and back.

Proven Reliability, Lower Operating Costs

Intel® SSDs have a proven track record for quality and reliability, and they are backed by an industry-leading 5-year warranty. And because SSDs have no moving parts, generated heat is lower than an HDD. This can lower power consumption and even extend battery life so so user can stay mobile longer.

Ideal user

So, who would benefit from using an Intel® SSD 520? Virtually anyone, but specifically these types of user:

Small business owners (self-employed professionals, graphic designers, etc.)

PC gamers

Do-it-selfers (tech-savvy user who build their own systems)

Anyone who's experienced a hard drive failure

Gamers will enjoy faster game and application load times, less lag, and smoother visuals. But for any customer who needs unrivaled performance, Intel continues to deliver solutions designed to satisfy the most demanding users, media creators, and technology enthusiasts.