SSD Versus HDD

[thecyclist]

I am about to purchase a new computer. Of all the computers in my price range (up to 20000 Baht), the Dell Vostro 3405 seems to check all the boxes (decent CPU, FHD, RAM 8,Rom 1 TB) except for that it has the outdated HDD, most computers nowadays run on SSD. How much of a difference does it make? 

[vinci]

night and day, get SSD you won't regretted, you can literally see the different, run your operating system on SSD, back up drive you can use HDD.

Edited January 4, 2022 by vinci

[OneMoreFarang]

I work professionally with PCs since 80386 - about 1988.

Never in that time there was one single part which made such a big difference than a SSD!

Even the slowest SSD is a lot faster than a fast HDD. And fast SSDs are 10 times and more faster than slower SSDs.

 

The good news is that on most computers (desktop and notebook) you can change the existing HDD into a SSD.

Then the question is how much space you need. For Windows and a couple of programs about 250GB SSD is more than enough. Then it's a question of how much data you have. Maybe you can have a HDD just for data. If you watch i.e. movies the HDD is fast enough to do that. You only really need the SSD for the operation system and the programs to make it feel fast.

Edited January 4, 2022 by OneMoreFarang

[lopburi3]

Quick check indicates that (3405) may not be an authorized import into Thailand.  Would the 3400 fit?  It is SSD and available on Lazada.  As said you do not want HDD in a laptop.

[DrPhibes]

See if the new machine has an NVme M.2 slot (most newer ones do).  Upgraded from a standard 2.5" SSD to a 970 EVO Plus NVMe M.2 drive and the results were stunning.  About 6x faster once all settings dialed in.  Boot up/down is almost instant.  You can use Macrium free for 30 days to do the clone from the old drive.

Edited January 4, 2022 by DrPhibes
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[SCOTT FITZGERSLD]

3 hours ago, thecyclist said:

most computers nowadays run on SSD. How much of a difference does it make?

you can buy the HDD , use it for 2 years, will work great because it is new.

than you can change to SSD, will cost you (in thai repair shop) around 3000 - 4000 baht. SSD is better in the long

run but when new there is no difference.

[vinci]

Quote

but when new there is no difference.

are you serious when you said no difference between SSD and HDD when new

[OneMoreFarang]

22 minutes ago, SCOTT FITZGERSLD said:

SSD is better in the long run but when new there is no difference.

Sorry, no!

That was never like this and will be never like that.

SSD are a lot faster right from the start.

[SCOTT FITZGERSLD]

3 minutes ago, vinci said:

are you serious when you said no difference between SSD and HDD when new

i said no difference between BRAND NEW HDD and SSD.

i refer to the poster question. he found a nice computer and only do not

like the installed HDD. so in that situation i advice to buy with the HDD.

if he could find the SAME computer with SSD than i would advice to buy

it with the SSD.

[elfpattaya]

34 minutes ago, SCOTT FITZGERSLD said:

you can buy the HDD , use it for 2 years, will work great because it is new.

than you can change to SSD, will cost you (in thai repair shop) around 3000 - 4000 baht. SSD is better in the long

run but when new there is no difference.

I am sorry but everything you wrote there is absolute rubbish. Even for the price you quote in a Thai repair shop.

Edited January 4, 2022 by elfpattaya

[Lemsta69]

4 minutes ago, SCOTT FITZGERSLD said:

i said no difference between BRAND NEW HDD and SSD.

i refer to the poster question. he found a nice computer and only do not

like the installed HDD. so in that situation i advice to buy with the HDD.

if he could find the SAME computer with SSD than i would advice to buy

it with the SSD.

I think you should stop talking now ????

[SCOTT FITZGERSLD]

6 minutes ago, elfpattaya said:

I am sorry but everything you wrote there is absolute rubbish. Even for the price you quote in a Thai repair shop.

i paid much lower to change the HDD on my laptop to SSD

YOU can find the SSD prices on line (i bought mine at banana IT for 1250 baht 256 GB), and than it cost me 500 baht to replace it  (in that repair shop).

[elfpattaya]

27 minutes ago, SCOTT FITZGERSLD said:

YOU can find the SSD prices on line (i bought mine at banana IT for 1250 baht 256 GB), and than it cost me 500 baht to replace it  (in that repair shop).

So why did you say it would cost between 3-4000 Baht?

Edited January 4, 2022 by elfpattaya

[OneMoreFarang]

6 hours ago, SCOTT FITZGERSLD said:

i said no difference between BRAND NEW HDD and SSD.

That is absolutely wrong.

You can look up 100 tests and 100 tests will confirm that.

Why do you continue writing "advice" like that if you have no clue what you are writing about?

[Henryford]

No one in 2022 should be buying a PC without an SSD.

[SCOTT FITZGERSLD]

8 hours ago, elfpattaya said:

So why did you say it would cost between 3-4000 Baht?

because the OP is looking for 1 TB HDD that size cost more

[WorriedNoodle]

13 hours ago, thecyclist said:

the Dell Vostro 3405 seems to check all the boxes (decent CPU, FHD, RAM 8,Rom 1 TB) except for that it has the outdated HDD

So it doesn't tick all the boxes. I'd look for something else.

[Bruno123]

16 hours ago, thecyclist said:

I am about to purchase a new computer. Of all the computers in my price range (up to 20000 Baht), the Dell Vostro 3405 seems to check all the boxes (decent CPU, FHD, RAM 8,Rom 1 TB) except for that it has the outdated HDD, most computers nowadays run on SSD. How much of a difference does it make? 

Nothing special about that laptop. It's actually marketed as a Business laptop; a step down from their Latitude range.

Look for something else.

Are you looking at a 14" screen specifically?

 

[fdsa]

6 hours ago, Henryford said:

No one in 2022 should be buying a PC without an SSD.

*if it runs Windows 10, because Windows 10 is simply unusable on HDD.

 

 

I do confirm that SSDs are generally faster, but there are nuances too: some cheap SSDs are actually slower than HDDs! you must look for SSDs that

1) have DRAM

2) made with MLC (recommended) or TLC (less recommended, sometimes marketed as "3-bit MLC") technology, not QLC.

 

QLC SSD without DRAM will be slower than HDD.

[Bruno123]

1 hour ago, fdsa said:

*if it runs Windows 10, because Windows 10 is simply unusable on HDD.

 

 

I do confirm that SSDs are generally faster, but there are nuances too: some cheap SSDs are actually slower than HDDs! you must look for SSDs that

1) have DRAM

2) made with MLC (recommended) or TLC (less recommended, sometimes marketed as "3-bit MLC") technology, not QLC.

 

QLC SSD without DRAM will be slower than HDD.

 

Of course you can use Windows 10 with an HDD. But I agree that you should use an SSD as a Boot drive whenever possible.

 

1) As a general rule it is better to buy SSD with DRAM, but SSD without DRAM will still be considerably more efficient than HDD.

2) You are getting somewhat carried away with MLC. That will be for Pro drives ???? TLC is normal. If TLC is 3- bit MLC; then QLC is 4-bit MLC. QLC really not of interest unless you are looking for a cheap, very large capacity drive.

 

QLC without DRAM will still be faster than HDD; since responsiveness is not just about sequential writes. Even without DRAM they will utilise a SLC cache. When the fast cache is full, sequential writes become relatively slow. 

For example, the Samsung 870 QVO 1 TB has a SLC cache of 42GB, so you'll need to be transferring huge files to see a slowdown. 

 

But currently, I see no reason to buy a QLC SSD at all; unless you need an 8TB drive and it's very cheap. 

 

In conclusion, the average good standard consumer 2.5" SSD will have a DRAM cache and TLC NAND flash memory. Samsung EVO 870 and Crucial MX500 being two notable examples. 2- bit MLC would be nice, but that will be in the more expensive Pro drives. 1- bit SLC we don't see at all ???? 

I have just one SSD with MLC NAND flash memory, bought many years ago when MLC NAND was the norm.

 

[thecyclist]

3 hours ago, Bruno123 said:

Nothing special about that laptop. It's actually marketed as a Business laptop; a step down from their Latitude range.

Look for something else.

Are you looking at a 14" screen specifically?

 

Thanks for letting me know that this model is nothing special. 14 inch would be ideal size but a little bigger or smaller would be okay. How about the Huawei Mate book D 14 or 15? Specs look good too me. Have been using the same Huawei smartphone for 4 years and very happy with it. Do they make good computers too? Open to suggestions, just has to be under 20 K. 

[KannikaP]

9 hours ago, Henryford said:

No one in 2022 should be buying a PC without an SSD.

Or with Windows 10 when 11 is the latest flavour.

[thecyclist]

20 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

Quick check indicates that (3405) may not be an authorized import into Thailand.  Would the 3400 fit?  It is SSD and available on Lazada.  As said you do not want HDD in a laptop.

Thanks. I am currently in Vietnam and Lazada Vietnam has the 3405 on sale. Will check out the 3400. 

[sungod]

Last year I put a SSD into a 12 year old lap top that was ready for the bin, works  wonderful now!

[Bruno123]

19 minutes ago, thecyclist said:

Thanks for letting me know that this model is nothing special. 14 inch would be ideal size but a little bigger or smaller would be okay. How about the Huawei Mate book D 14 or 15? Specs look good too me. Have been using the same Huawei smartphone for 4 years and very happy with it. Do they make good computers too? Open to suggestions, just has to be under 20 K. 

Which Huawei device?

 

Some bulk standard alternatives:

 

https://www.advice.co.th/product/notebook/notebook-dell/notebook-dell-vostro-v3510-w568258000thcom-carbon-black-

Though check if the warranty is the same as it is here: https://itrinitydell.com/product/notebook-dell/vostro/vostro-3510-15-6/

 

If you don't mind installing Windows 10/11 yourself then the ACER Travelmate P214 is within budget and is portable. Doesn't cost much and isn't difficult to install the OS.

Search these model numbers individually via Google.

NX.VRAST.00A

NX.VRAST.001

NX.VPNST.01C

 

Another larger screen laptop possibility: https://www.advice.co.th/product/notebook/notebook-acer/notebook-acer-aspire-vero-av15-51-518u-t006-volcano-gray-

 

Are you referring to this Huawei? https://www.advice.co.th/product/notebook/notebook-huawei/notebook-huawei-matebook-d15-bohrb-wah9a-space-grey-

[Bruno123]

31 minutes ago, thecyclist said:

Thanks. I am currently in Vietnam and Lazada Vietnam has the 3405 on sale. Will check out the 3400. 

Don't buy anything with an HDD unless it is super cheap. If it is then you can get the manufacturer's service centre to fit an SSD for you in order to protect any warranty.

 

In other words, don't buy anything not fitted with an SSD if you care about the warranty.

Will you be living in Vietnam? If not, check where the warranty will be honoured.

[thecyclist]

1 hour ago, Bruno123 said:

Which Huawei device?

 

Some bulk standard alternatives:

 

https://www.advice.co.th/product/notebook/notebook-dell/notebook-dell-vostro-v3510-w568258000thcom-carbon-black-

Though check if the warranty is the same as it is here: https://itrinitydell.com/product/notebook-dell/vostro/vostro-3510-15-6/

 

If you don't mind installing Windows 10/11 yourself then the ACER Travelmate P214 is within budget and is portable. Doesn't cost much and isn't difficult to install the OS.

Search these model numbers individually via Google.

NX.VRAST.00A

NX.VRAST.001

NX.VPNST.01C

 

Another larger screen laptop possibility: https://www.advice.co.th/product/notebook/notebook-acer/notebook-acer-aspire-vero-av15-51-518u-t006-volcano-gray-

 

Are you referring to this Huawei? https://www.advice.co.th/product/notebook/notebook-huawei/notebook-huawei-matebook-d15-bohrb-wah9a-space-grey-

Yes, that is the one. Price is the same here in Vietnam :

[lopburi3]

A quick look at review seems to indicate average laptop and likely not a first choice unless using other Huawei units - but if have other Huawei devices  a very good choice as it mates easily.  But do check on any warranty issues if buying in one country and using in another.   

Edited January 5, 2022 by lopburi3

[fdsa]

38 minutes ago, thecyclist said:

DON'T THINK, JUST BUY!

damn, that screenshot has literally made me Harold-face

 

 

 

[Bruno123]

1 hour ago, thecyclist said:

Yes, that is the one. Price is the same here in Vietnam :

I would say no. Let down by it's more than two year old CPU. I would only buy if there was a very good discount.