A Solid State Drive, or SSD for short, is the latest storage technology. If you have ever had a computer with an old hard drive, you know how slow it can be to load programs and access your files.
This is because all of your data was stored on spinning magnetic disks that are much slower than flash memory chips found in SSDs. For this reason, any new laptop should at least come pre-installed with an SSD, if not two! Read on for how to check what kind of SSD you have inside your PC.
What is an SSD?
SSD stands for Solid State Drive. It is a data storage device that uses solid-state memory to store persistent data. The traditional spinning hard drive is essentially a metal platter with a magnetic coating that stores your data, with a read/write head on an arm that accesses the data while the platters are spinning.
A solid-state drive performs the same basic functions, but instead of a physical disk and read/write head; there is a bank of flash memory chips. The biggest difference between an SSD and a spinning hard drive, though, is that the data on an SSD doesn’t exist until it’s written to the individual cells.
This means that when you delete something from your hard drive or turn off your computer, the data is still there. The SSD automatically erases deleted files as needed to keep them from running out of space and prevents you from recovering previously deleted files unless they were recently overwritten. This also means that if your computer suddenly loses power or crashes before it has a chance to write those changes, then those changes will be lost forever.
However, SSDs are also much faster than traditional hard drives. They can read and write data at 20 times as fast speeds. This means you don’t have to wait for your computer to process large files or boot up so quickly.
It’s almost like having an entirely new system with improved performance across the board. You’ll see a decrease in loading times for games, webpages, and software programs. In general, you’ll just have a more responsive computer that feels faster no matter what you’re doing.
One downside to SSDs is that they are more expensive than traditional hard drives per gigabyte of storage capacity. So if you’re not running low on storage space, you may be better off sticking with a traditional hard drive.
However, as prices continue to drop, it’s becoming more and more affordable to make the switch, and with the many benefits an SSD can offer, it’s worth considering.
How to check what SSD I have
There are several ways to check what SSD you have installed. These include:
Method 1: Through task manager
Use the Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open the Task Manager, or right-click on the taskbar and select Task Manager from the menu.
If it appears in a small view, go to full mode.
Select the disk on the left side of the Performance tab to get the drive’s name on the right side.
The name usually indicates the SSD drive’s type.
Note: If your computer system has more than one internal drive, you’ll have to click on each one individually (on the left-hand side) to learn about its properties.
Method 2: Using disk defragmenter
To launch the Run box, click on the Windows key + R keyboard shortcut, type dfrgui, and click Enter. You may also use the start menu search to find Defragment and Optimize Drives.
Search for the Media type column in the Disk Defragmenter window to see which solid-state drive (SSD) drive it is.
Method 3: Checking from windows explorer
To access the File Explorer, click Windows + E and this PC. To launch the properties dialog for a partition drive, right-click on it and select Properties.
Under the Hardware tab, you can check whether your computer has a solid-state drive (SSD) or a hard disk drive (HDD).
If your computer has more than one hard disk, the Hardware tab lists all of them but only indicates the physical drive that contains your presently selected partition drive.
Note that when you have more than one physical drive, you must right-click on a drive that corresponds to the physical drive you would like to know about, which in this case is the SSD.
Method 4: Checking from device manager
If you’re using Windows 10, access the Device Manager by right-clicking on the Start button and selecting Device Manager from the drop-down menu. Users of Windows 7 and 8.1 Windows + R, type devmgmt.MSC, then click OK.
The next step is expanding the Disk drives tree in the Device Manager window to see the drive’s name, which also shows the drive’s kind (SSD or HDD).
Method 5: Check the label
If you’re not sure about the steps above, or if your computer doesn’t have one of the methods mentioned above, most SSDs will come with a label on them that has all of this information. The name usually indicates the type of drive (HDD or SSD). If it’s an SSD, it’ll say so.
Keep these things in mind when you’re buying a new SSD. It will help make the transition go more smoothly, and it’ll save you time down the road.
Benefits of an SSD
The first benefit is that the computer boots up extremely fast. This is because an SSD has no moving parts. There is nothing to spin up or down, which means startup time is faster than ever before.
Another benefit of having an SSD installed on a laptop or desktop is that it saves battery life because there are no moving parts inside to draw power when they start spinning.
The performance of an SSD is also much better than a regular hard drive. This means that applications open faster, files are transferred more quickly, and games run smoother. Many people say that using an SSD makes their computer feel like a new one.
You can install an SSD in a server to improve the speed of the server and the applications that run on it. One of the biggest benefits of an SDD over an HDD is that they do not have any mechanical components.
This makes them extremely fast because there are more platters in HDDs, making it harder for data to be accessed quickly. HDDs also make more noise because of the spinning platters, and they generate more heat. An HDD will eventually fail due to its moving parts, while an SSD has no known limit on the number of read/write cycles.
The final benefit of using an SSD is that they are very reliable. They have no moving parts, so there is less chance of something going wrong. This makes them a good choice for businesses that need a reliable storage solution.
Overall, there are many benefits to using an SSD. They are faster, save battery life, and are more reliable than a regular hard drive. You can use them on laptops, desktops, servers, and any other device that needs storage. So if you are looking for a way to improve the performance of your computer or server, consider using an SSD.
Factors to consider when buying an SSD
When buying an SSD, several factors to consider can have varying effects on price and reliability. These include:
- Size: The size of the SSD is measured in GBs, and there are several sizes to choose from when choosing an SSD. You should consider how many files you currently have on your computer because larger drives may be faster, but they won’t fit all your data if it exceeds available space.
- Interface: There are three interfaces for connecting a solid-state drive to a computer. They are SATA, mSATA, and PCIe. The type of interface you choose will depend on the device you’re using because not all support every option.
- Performance: SSDs can vary greatly in performance, so it’s important to check reviews before choosing one that has the right speeds for your needs.
- Form factor: The form factor of an SSD is the size and shape of the drive. This can vary depending on the type of device you’re using it in. For example, there are different form factors for laptops and desktops.
- Brand: Not all brands offer the same quality or reliability, so it’s important to do some research before purchasing.
- Price: This varies greatly depending on the size and other factors such as brand and interface type, but it’s important to consider your budget when buying an SSD because you don’t want to spend more than necessary for a drive that offers less storage space or slower speeds.
When considering these factors, it’s important to remember that not all SSDs are created equal. So do your research, read reviews, and ask questions before purchasing.
Conclusion
The SSD in your computer can be a little confusing if you don’t know what it is or how to find out. When it comes to the best SSD for you, there are several factors that you’ll want to consider before making your purchase.
Some questions you may be asking yourself maybe what would suit your needs better and how much storage space do you need? We hope this article has helped get you started on finding out what type of SSD drive you have.