Choosing the right hard drive or SSD can make the difference between a fast, responsive PC and one that feels painfully slow. This guide explains HDD, SSD and NVMe in plain English, and shows which drive to buy for PCs, consoles, NAS and backups.
1. Storage Basics: HDD vs SSD vs NVMe
Think of storage like a garage for your data: some garages are huge and cheap, others are compact, high‑tech and built for speed. The three main types you will see today are HDD, SATA SSD and NVMe SSD.
HDD (Hard Disk Drive)
Uses spinning magnetic platters and a moving head to read and write data, so it is much slower and more fragile than flash‑based drives.
SATA SSD
Uses NAND flash with no moving parts, so it is silent, more shock‑resistant and many times faster than an HDD.
NVMe SSD (M.2) Recommended
An SSD that connects via PCIe using the NVMe protocol, usually in an M.2 “stick” form factor. Delivers much higher throughput (often 2,000–7,000+ MB/s) and lower latency than SATA SSDs.
2. HDD vs SSD vs NVMe: Key Differences
| Feature | HDD | SATA SSD | NVMe SSD (PCIe) |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it stores data | Spinning platters + head | NAND flash, SATA interface | NAND flash + PCIe + NVMe |
| Typical speed | ~80–160 MB/s | ~500–600 MB/s | ~2,000–7,000+ MB/s |
| Noise & vibration | Audible, sensitive | Silent, shock‑resistant | Silent, shock‑resistant |
| Cost per GB | Lowest | Medium | Highest |
| Best use‑cases | Bulk storage, backups | Everyday OS drive, gaming | High‑performance gaming, editing |
A simple rule: Use an SSD (preferably NVMe) as your main system drive, and add an HDD for cheap extra space and backups.
3. HDD Details: CMR vs SMR and NAS drives
Modern hard drives are not all the same, especially for NAS and RAID users.
CMR vs SMR Explained
Writes tracks side‑by‑side and gives predictable performance. Strongly recommended for NAS and RAID.
Overlaps tracks like roof shingles to lower cost, but rewriting can cause big slowdowns. Use only for cold backups.
Why NAS‑rated HDDs cost more
NAS drives like WD Red or Seagate IronWolf are tuned firmware‑wise for multi‑drive enclosures. They feature:
- Vibration Tolerance: Better protection in multi-drive chassis.
- Error Recovery (TLER/ERC): Reports problems quickly to the NAS instead of "disappearing" from the RAID array during self-recovery.
Bottom line: For most home NAS setups, CMR NAS drives are worth paying for over generic desktop HDDs.
4. SSD Internals: TLC vs QLC
Not all SSDs are built the same inside. The main difference comes down to the flash memory type and PCIe generation.
TLC (Triple‑Level Cell)
Stores 3 bits per cell. Offers a good balance of speed, endurance, and cost. Usually the best choice for systems drives and heavy gaming.
QLC (Quad‑Level Cell)
Stores 4 bits per cell for higher capacity at lower prices, but with lower endurance. Treat these as cheap, large libraries (Steam, media).
PCIe Gen 3 vs Gen 4 vs Gen 5
Already far faster than SATA; good enough for most people and older systems.
Current sweet spot for new builds. Speeds of 5,000–7,000 MB/s possible.
Bleeding edge (14,000 MB/s). Expensive and runs hot. Only for niche high-end professional work.
5. Gamers, Creators & Backups
PC Gamers
Modern titles use DirectStorage to speed up loading. A 1–2 TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD with TLC flash is an excellent baseline.
"DirectStorage is designed around NVMe; games can still run on SATA SSDs, but you will not see the full benefit."
Handhelds (Steam Deck/ROG) →
Steam Deck and ROG Ally use smaller M.2 2230 NVMe drives or microSD cards for expansion.
PlayStation 5 PS5 →
PS5 requires a PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD with at least 5,500 MB/s read speed. A heatsink is strongly recommended.
Xbox Series X|S
Internal expansion requires proprietary cards (Seagate/WD). USB drives can only store games (or play older Xbox One titles).
Video Editors
Use a fast NVMe SSD (Gen 4 or 5) for active projects. Keep a large HDD or NAS for long‑term archives and raw footage.
6. External Drives: USB-C & Thunderbolt
Cable and interface speed matters, especially for external SSDs and professional workflows.
Ideal for backups
Great for pro editing
For high-end 8K workflows
7. Backup Strategy: 3-2-1-1-0
A simple framework to ensure you never lose data.
- 3Copies of your data total (1 primary + 2 backups).
- 2Different media types (e.g., Internal SSD + External HDD/NAS).
- 1Off-site copy (cloud storage or drive at a friend's house).
- 1Offline / Immutable copy (so ransomware cannot encrypt it).
- 0Errors (test your restores regularly).
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8. Quick Cheat Sheet: What Should I Buy?
Home Office PC
1 TB NVMe SSD (System) + Large External HDD (Backups)
PC Gamers
2 TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD (TLC) + Optional HDD for older titles
NAS Builders
CMR NAS‑rated Drives (WD Red Plus, IronWolf)
Video Editors
Fast Gen 4/5 NVMe (Active) + Huge HDD/NAS (Archive)
9. Simple HDD & SSD FAQs
Is an SSD better than a hard drive?
Yes. SSDs are much faster, quieter and more durable than HDDs, but they cost more per GB, so many users combine an SSD for speed with an HDD for capacity.
Do I need NVMe or is SATA SSD enough?
For basic use and light gaming, a SATA SSD is enough, but NVMe SSDs provide even faster load times and better performance in heavy games, editing and multitasking.
Which hard drives are best for a NAS?
Choose CMR NAS‑rated drives from major brands and avoid large SMR drives for RAID; NAS models are tuned for 24/7 operation and multi‑drive vibration.
How much storage do I need?
Most users are comfortable with 1–2 TB for Windows and games plus extra HDD or NAS capacity for media, photos and backups.