SSD Definition

So What Exactly Is A SSD Hard Drive?

You may be unfamiliar with Solid State Drives, or SSDs. But anyone who relies on their computers to store important financial information, photos or reports, needs to know that Solid State hard drives offer better protection for electronic data than do standard hard disk drives.

Basically, a SSD Drive functions as a more durable replacement for the standard disk drives found in most computers. Like hard disk drives (or HDDs), the new SSDs work with desktop, notebook, netbook or laptop computers. They can also connect to these computers as external drives via a USB connection.

Built from Memory Chips only!

Sandisk SSDSSD Hard Drives are a better alternative because they do not feature any moving parts. Standard hard disk drives, though, rely on multiple moving parts to store and access your electronic data.

Because of this, hard disk drives are more fragile, and can suffer serious damage if a computer is bumped hard enough while they are in use. If this damage is severe enough, it can cause computer users to lose their important data, which often has not been backed up.

Solid state hard drives, though, do not use moving parts. They are, therefore, more resistant to hard bumps, knocks or even falls. SSDs are built entirely from solid state memory chips, which are similar to the temporary computer memory used in personal or notebook computers.

No Moving Parts - So More Robust and Relaible

When users shut their computers off, though, the data in their machine’s temporary computer memory disappears. That same data stored on a SDD Hard Drive, though, will be saved even after users shut down their computers, just like on existing hard disk drives in current computers.

It’s helpful to think of Solid State Drives as extra-large and powerful USB sticks. The main difference, of course, is that SSD Drives have far more storage space. In fact, they are so powerful, they can easily replace an entire computer hard disk. No USB stick can do this currently and these mew memory only hard disk replacements are starting a revolution in the compter storage media marketplace.

Faster, Quieter and Cooler

Samsung SSD DriveThe durable nature of SSD Hard Drives have helped them to become the data storage medium of choice for netbook and notebook computers. Because they are dragged from place to place, portable computers suffer more physical punishment than do desktop versions. SSD Drives can withstand these extra bumps and bangs with ease and take the worry out if mobiule computing.

SSDs also run more quickly than do standard hard disk drives. Again, it’s all about the moving parts. Hard disk drives often suffer from mechanical delays when accessing information.

Each new SSD does not have this problem. Once again because they do not have moving parts - remember this as it is very important! These newdiskless drives can also operate without the use of noisy cooling fans. This is why computers that run with SSD technology are whisper quiet and much cooler.

Becoming More Affordable

Currently there is one small downside connected with Solid State Drives:  At preset they are still a little more expensive than are standard hard disk drives for the same capacity specification.

OCZ 64GB SSDFortunately, this is already changing as prices are continuing to drop which some great deals now available. And as more computer users discover the benefits of Solid State Hard Drives, and the many advantages they posses over standard hard disk drives, more will seek them out and they will become even more affordable.

This, of course, will inspire manufacturers to come up with a quicker and more efficient way to build bigger and better SSD Drives. And that will lower the cost of them.

Checkout the reviews on this site to see what is currently available and to get an idea of the great deals you can already find.

OCZ Vertex 120 gb SSD Drive Video Review