What is the difference between magnetic, optical and solid state storage devices

A drive is a drive, right? Not at all. Allow us to explain the differences between SSD technology and HDD technology.

Hard disk drives (HDDs) are primarily found in computers and laptops. Solid state drives (SSDs) are becoming more common in computers and laptops, and are also found in tablets, cell phones, portable drives and mp3 players.

Consider the familiar USB memory stick. A solid state drive is a larger, more sophisticated version of your traditional thumb drive. Like a memory stick, the SSD stores information on microchips and contains no moving parts. Meanwhile, a hard disk drive records information on a storage platter by moving a mechanical arm with a read/write head over a spinning platter.

The platter inside the hard disk drive is coated with a magnetic media which records data in binary code (1's and 0's). A solid state drive does not contain magnetic coatings. Instead, SSDs rely on an embedded processor, or "brain", and interconnected flash memory chips that retain data even when no power is present.

When destroying HDDs and SSDs that are no longer needed, their technology must be taken into consideration. A degausser has the ability to erase information stored on a hard disk drive because it is magnetic media. However, a degausser will prove ineffective at erasing data from a solid state drive, because SSDs do not contain erasable magnetic coatings. Instead, solid state drives should be physically destroyed with a device like the SSMD-2MM Solid State Media Disintegrator.

The world of computer system storage devices can be a sea of confusing jargon and a veritable alphabet soup of acronyms, like Solid-State Drives (SSD), Magnetic Drives, Optical Drives, Magneto-Optical Drives (MO).

Collecting and keeping consumer information is important if you want to know who to reach and the best method to do so. Because of this, mass storage devices are vital to modern-day business. When it comes to deciding what type of portable storage and internal hard-drives to utilize, the choice might not be inherently obvious.

Magnetic Storage Devices

If you use a personal computer at home, or if you have a larger set-up at your office acting as your network server, then chances are you have a magnetic storage device for your computer's hard-drive. This is among the two primary types of mass storage (the other being SSD).

Magnetic storage devices utilize magnets to record data onto metal platters inside the drive's casing. These metal platters rotate, triggering the whirring noise that you may hear coming from the computer system's hard-drive.

These are the most economical forms of data storage as it costs cents for each gigabyte of storage. Most magnetic drives in today's computers have storage of at least 1 TB with 4 TB drives becoming more typical.

These drives are also considered advantageous because they offer a faster method of opening files through their ability to access the data directly. However, a significant drawback to magnetic storage devices is being subject to mechanical failures. Because of the multiple moving parts from the magnets and rotating platters, the drives can wear down over time and malfunction.

Furthermore, the drives are also susceptible to dust and external magnets which can erase them. Lastly, these kinds of hard-drives tend to get very hot, requiring a cooling fan to keep them from overheating.

Strong State Storage Device (SSD)

Strong state drives are currently increasing in popularity and will most likely be popping up more than MO or HDD in the coming years. SSDs use flash technology, which is the same basic set-up as the thumb drives or flash drives that people have been using for several years to back up data or move it from one computer system to another.

An SSD is preferential to a magnetic storage drive because they can launch much faster since they don't need to "spin into action." As a rule, they are likewise significantly much faster in terms of data transfer. In addition, SSDs do not break as fast as magnetic drives due to the fact that there are no moving parts getting worn down.

This keeps their heat transfer down, however, at this time, they are considerably more expensive than magnetic drives. While magnetic drives are multi-TBs of storage, most SSDs that are realistically priced remain in the 256-512 GB area. However, as the technology continues to improve, prices are anticipated to decrease while the storage size increases.

Magneto-Optical Disc (MO Disc)

This final type has been around for a while but is slowly becoming antiquated. Sony's MiniDisc, which was popular at one time, is a perfect example. MO discs have been mostly replaced by the flash drive technology, however, some older systems might still use them.

You should now have a clear concept of the distinctions between SSD, MO, magnetic, and optical drives for your data storage requirements. From looking at marketing information to efficiency analytics on your website, a company thrives on having data to make informed decisions. In order to ensure that you have the information that you need safely set aside, it is essential that you get the mass storage drive that is ideal for you.

If you want to see our hard drives in action, make sure to visit our dedicated servers page. We have a large variety of servers with the perfect storage size for you. If you still have questions or want to find out more about storage devices, make sure to contact us by opening a support ticket or use our live chat feature to speak with a representative.

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