How to choose an ssd for your pc 【step by step】?

Without a doubt, having a solid state drive in our computer is one of the most important improvements to have a fluidity and working comfort that few users know about. A difficulty when choosing the right SSD for us is the number of models that exist. Do not worry, today we bring you this guide to help you choose and make a good purchase.

Index of contents

What is an SSD and how is it different from a hard drive?

An SSD (Solid State Drive) is a data storage device that uses a type of non-volatile memory (flash) to store data, rather than the magnetic disks of standard hard disk drives (HDDs) up to now. Advantage? They are less sensitive to shocks, they do not sound and their access and latency time is much less.

Unlike solid state drives, traditional HDDs store data on discs (platters) using a moving head that moves every time we want to access our data. This is a very slow process due to the mechanical movement of these components. It is true that they allow more GB being cheaper, but, once you try an SSD you will not want to go back

SSD formats, is my laptop compatible?

The most commonly used format is the standard 2.5-inch (same as 5400rpm hard drives). There's also a more recent form factor that is gaining popularity: the M.2 standard. You have to check what type of drive your laptop or desktop computer uses, normally the most common format is M.2 2280. In general, if it is a laptop it is very likely that you have at least the capacity to install a 2.5-inch SSD.

SSD Price How much can I spend?

The budget is key, it is what totally defines our decision. Typically the smallest capacity drives are typically the most affordable in the 120GB (€ 20-30), 250GB (€ 30-50), even 500GB (€ 40-70) ranges. However, large capacity drives are very expensive, especially when measured by price per gigabyte (GB).

SSD performance What use will I give it?

SSDs are so fast that the SATA III interface is too small for their potential. This is when the NVMe or Non-Volatile Memory express or PCIe protocol appears. There are M.2 format drives that use the SATA interface, and others that use the NVMe or PCIe interface. The M.2 SATA and M.2 NVMe SSDs only differ externally in one small detail: the notches on the connector. While M.2 NVMe only have one notch on its connector, M.2 SATA drives have two notches.

M.2 SATA III SSD

M.2 NVME SSD

Standard SATA III format disks only support a maximum transfer rate of 600MB / sg. By contrast, M.2s that use PCIe are the fastest drives you'll find in solid consumer storage. They use the native PCI-e interface to boost their performance to a theoretical maximum that reaches five times that of the solid state drives connected to SATA. Although in the beginning its price was very expensive for mass consumption, the distances from SATA are decreasing and the future of PC storage passes through them.

Capacity, how many GB do I need?

Most reasonably priced SSDs are between 120GB and 500GB, although this changes rapidly over time. Every time we can buy more capacity for less money, now a 1TB from Samsung can cost you about 135 to 140 euros. In the end, it depends a lot on each user and the budget, as we mentioned before, but at least we recommend a 250 GB SSD.

Endurance, how long will my unit last?

Disk life, the most important parameter for many users, is indicated by Total Terabytes Written (TBW) and in years. This is linked to the type of NAND flash memory used. Currently, the most widely used in SSDs are those with TLC (Triple-Level-Cell) and MLC (Multi-Level-Cell) and QLC (Quad-Level Cell) technology.

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TLC memories offer the performance and reliability that any average user needs. The most demanding users, who require more stability and work performance of their SSD, should look at disks with MLC memories, which surpasses its competitor in terms of performance and reliability.Obviously as we have commented previously, a unit with QLC memory will have less durability than one with MLC, that added to its large drop in sequential readings, becoming worse than an HDD.

In general, unless you want your SSD to mount a server or some other scenario where it's being written almost constantly, all drives today are rated strong enough to run for at least 3-5 years.

Conclusions about which SSD to choose

We do not want to wind up much with technicalities, but we can help you depending on the use you are going to give to the PC.

Are you a "normal" user who is looking for an SSD to speed up their operating system and their favorite games?

So, the most suitable for your use would be to choose a disk with a 2.5-inch SATA III format of 250 or 500 GB, you will not have any problem in terms of performance and you will reduce the loading times of your favorite programs and games.

Are you a "more demanding" user who is looking for a unit for editing or very heavy tasks?

In that case, the best would be an M.2 NVMe format SSD over 500GB minimum, which will allow you the maximum possible speed and your projects will not be slowed down

We recommend you read the best SSDs on the market, which is the most complete guide on the net, at least in Spanish-speaking and Spanish.

So far our article on how to choose an SSD. We always recommend models like the Samsung 860 EVO for its quality / price. If you have any questions or any interesting contribution, you can leave it in the comments.