SSD vs HDD — What’s the Difference?
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SSD (Solid State Drive) and HDD (Hard Disk Drive) are the two main types of storage for computers. SSDs are faster, lighter and more durable. HDDs are cheaper per gigabyte but slower and more fragile. In 2026, SSDs are the standard in most new laptops and PCs sold in Singapore.
Head-to-head comparison
| SSD | HDD | |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Very fast (500MB/s – 7,000MB/s) | Slow (80–160MB/s) |
| Durability | High — no moving parts | Lower — spinning platters vulnerable to drops |
| Noise | Silent | Audible spinning/clicking |
| Price per GB | Higher (but falling) | Lower — better for bulk storage |
| Power use | Low — better battery life | Higher power draw |
| Best use | Laptops, primary PC drive, OS drive | Backup drives, NAS, bulk file storage |
Types of SSD
Not all SSDs are equal. The main types you’ll encounter in Singapore:
- SATA SSD — the older, slower SSD format. Uses the same connector as HDDs. Speeds up to ~550MB/s. Common in older laptops and budget builds.
- NVMe SSD (M.2) — the modern standard. Plugs directly into the motherboard. Dramatically faster (3,000–7,000MB/s). Found in all modern laptops and custom PCs.
Upgrading HDD to SSD in Singapore
Replacing an HDD with an SSD is one of the most impactful and affordable laptop upgrades available in Singapore. A slow old laptop can feel brand new after an SSD swap. Most repair shops in Singapore offer this service, including cloning your existing data to the new drive. See: Best Laptop Repair Singapore.