Hybrid hard drive or SSD? A comparison

The hybrid hard drive or SSHD combines the advantages of an SSD with those of the ordinary HDD. In our comparison, we explain the differences between the models and explain the advantages and disadvantages of the hybrid hard disk compared to the SSD.

SSD or hybrid hard drive - the differences

• The classic hard drive disc, or HDD for short, consists of several magnetic disks and one reading head each. The magnetic disks rotate during operation. The read head (attached to a flywheel) moves over the discs and reads out the stored data.
• The Solid State Disc, or SSD for short, works with flash memories as they are built into USB sticks. It has no mechanical parts.
• The hybrid hard drive, Solid State Hybrid Disc, or SSHD for short, combines the two technologies in one hard drive. So you can benefit from the advantages of both types of hard drives.
• The majority of the storage space of an SSHD was made available by the HDD section. In addition, a small flash memory is installed, which mainly serves as an intermediate storage for files. It usually measures 8 GB.
• The SSHD also recognizes which data is called up frequently and automatically saves it on the built-in flash memory. So over time, the SSHD will speed up the computer.
• For those who are particularly interested: We will explain the functionality of the SSD and HDD in detail in separate articles.

SSD or SSHD: advantages and disadvantages of the storage types

• Speed: The SSD is significantly faster than the HDD and also somewhat faster than the SSHD. Data stored on the flash memory can be read with the SSHD just as quickly as with an SSD.
• Volume: The SSD works silently. An HDD, however, because of its mechanical functioning. Therefore, an SSHD as a combination of both hard drives can be as loud as an HDD. The SSD has the edge here.
• Storage space and price: The crux of the decision is often the storage space. SSDs usually offer less space at higher prices. An SSD with 1 TB (1, 000 GB) costs around 280 euros. The SSHD of the same size is already available for 80 euros and is therefore hardly more expensive than a classic HDD.
• Lifetime: An SSD does not allow an infinite number of write cycles. The more you use the SSD, the shorter the lifespan. The SSHD, on the other hand, stores most of the data on the HDD part and thus protects the flash memory.
• Sensitivity: Because of its mechanical parts, the SSHD is mostly over after a fall. An SSD, on the other hand, is almost insensitive to falls and bumps.

Conclusion: SSD or hybrid - or HDD and SSD?

• SSHDs are particularly suitable for laptops. There is no space for a second hard drive here. The SSHD offers plenty of space for data such as music, videos and pictures and has a flash memory for system files.
• As an alternative to the SSHD, you can also install an HDD with a lot of storage space and a small SSD for your operating system and software in a computer.
• The disadvantage of this double solution: You have to decide yourself which data you save on which disk.
• Advantage of the SSD: A pure SSD offers significantly more space than the flash memory in the SSHD. If you have large amounts of data that you need to access particularly quickly, an expensive but fast SSD is ideal.
• Advantage of the SSHD: It offers a lot of space for a small price. If you only want to store a little data, for example just the operating system, on the flash memory in order to improve the performance of your laptop or computer, the cheaper SSHD is sufficient.