SSD VS HDD in NAS drives 2024

Published 10 months ago5 min readManaging an Undocumented Backup Setup HERE...

When it comes to selecting a physical drive for a local backup storage device, there are two primary options to consider: SSD (Solid State Drive) and HDD (Hard Disk Drive).

Each has pros and cons, and choosing the right one for your particular use case requires careful consideration of factors such as capacity, speed, cost, and reliability.

In this article, we will look at the fundamentals of solid-state drive versus hard disk drives in local backup storage devices, and provide a comprehensive overview of the factors to consider when choosing between the two.

While you are here, take a look at some of our other materials about backup below that may interest you:

This is a bit of a moving target and as time goes on, the more the favored outcome will be SSDs. We are already starting to see the winding down of mechanical hard disks as SSD technology becomes cheaper and more reliable than ever.

Price parity between hard disk drives and solid-state drives are almost here.

SSD Versus HDD For NAS Drives

When it comes to selecting a storage solution for a local backup storage, the choice between solid-state drives and HDD is an important one. Each type of drive has its own set of strengths and weaknesses, and understanding the differences between them is important to making an informed decision.

In this section, we will look into the fundamentals of solid-state storage and hard disk drives when used in local backup storage enclosures, and examine the key differences between them.

HDD - Hard Disk Drives For NAS Drives

HDD, or Hard Disk Drive, is a traditional storage device that has been around for decades. It works by using a spinning disk, or platter, to read and write data. The disk is coated in a magnetic material, and a read/write head moves back and forth across it to access and modify data.

One of the primary advantages of hard drives is their cost-effectiveness. They are relatively inexpensive to produce, and as a result, they are widely used in consumer-grade devices such as laptops and desktops. This is changing rapidly though and we will soon reach price parity between them and when that occurs, there will be almost no reason to choose hard disks over solid state drives.

Hard drives also have several drawbacks. One of the main issues is that they are prone to mechanical failure. Since they rely on moving parts, they are more susceptible to damage and wear and tear. Additionally, they are much slower than SSDs, particularly when it comes to accessing and retrieving data.

They are also very noisy when compared to hard disk drives.

SSD - Solid State Drives For NAS Drives

SSD, or Solid State Drive, is a newer type of storage device that has gained popularity in recent years.

Instead of using a spinning disk, solid-state drives store data on flash memory chips. This allows them to access and retrieve data much faster than mechanical drives, since there are no moving parts to slow down the process.

SSDs are also much more durable than mechanical disk drives, since they don't have any moving parts that can break or wear out. This makes them a popular choice for use in environments where there is a high risk of physical damage or shock, such as in laptops or thin clients.

However, one of the main drawbacks of solid-state drives is their cost. They are typically more expensive than mechanical disks, which can make them less appealing for use in consumer-grade devices.

Once solid state drives reach a price parity with hard disk drives, it's my opinion that hard disks will stop being manufactured.

SSDs beat mechanical disk drives in every metric except cost now that the technology has become more reliable. Speed, writes/reads, they are quiet, have longer intervals between failures and have no mechanical/moving parts.

Advantages Of Using SSD In NAS Enclosures

One of the main advantages of using SSD flash drives in local backup storage devices is speed. Since flash drives have no moving parts, they can access and retrieve data much faster than mechanical disk drives.

This makes them an ideal choice for use in environments where fast data access is critical, such as in video editing or other multimedia applications.

SSD flash drives also tend to be more reliable than ssd/flash storage, since they are less susceptible to mechanical failure. This can be especially important in a local backup storage device drive, where data loss can be catastrophic.

They are near silent although they do produce quite a lot of heat when worked hard in performance applications so cooling is an important consideration.

Advantages of using HDD in NAS Enclosures

While solid-state disks have many advantages, magnetic disk drives still have some benefits that make them a viable option for use in local backup storage device drives.

One of the primary advantages of magnetic drives is their (dwindling) cost-effectiveness. Since they have been around for so long, they are relatively inexpensive to produce, which makes them a more affordable option than solid-state disks.

Additionally, magnetic disks tend to have higher capacity than solid-state disks. This means that if you need to store a large amount of data, a magnetic disk drive may be the better choice.

Long term archiving may be an advantage of hard disks although I could not find any definitive information one way or the other. If you are required to hold onto data for decades then it would need further investigation.

Comparison of SSD and HDD in NAS Enclosures

When it comes to choosing between solid-state disk and HDD for local backup storage devices, there are a few key differences to consider. Here are some of the main factors to keep in mind:

Speed

One of the biggest advantages of SSD/NAND storage over traditional disk drives is their speed. SSDs have no moving parts, which means they can access data faster and with lower latency.

This makes them a great choice for applications that require fast read and write speeds, such as streaming video or running virtual machines.

Capacity

While SSD/NAND storage is faster than traditional drives, they are generally more expensive and have lower capacities. This can be a limiting factor for users who need a lot of storage space.

Traditional disks, on the other hand, are much cheaper and can offer much larger capacities, making them a better choice for users who need to store large amounts of data.

Reliability

Another important factor to consider is reliability. Because SSDs have no moving parts, they are less likely to experience mechanical failure than magnetic storage drives. They are also less susceptible to damage from physical shock or vibration.

However, SSDs do have a limited lifespan due to the number of write cycles they can endure, so it's important to choose a high-quality solid-state storage with a long warranty.

Power Consumption

Non-mechanical storage consumes less power than magnetic drives, which can be an important consideration for users who are running their local backup storage device drives 24/7. This can result in lower electricity bills and a longer lifespan for the drive.

Overall, the choice between non-mechanical storage and HDD for local backup storage devices whether it be a NAS, general server or SAN, it will depend on your specific needs and budget.

If speed is a top priority and you don't need a lot of storage space, SSDs are the way to go. However, if you need a lot of storage space and don't mind sacrificing some speed, platter drives are still a cheaper option.

Best NAS Enclosures For SSDs

When it comes to choosing the best SSD local backup storage device drives, there are a few options available in the market. Let's take a look at some of the top picks. You need something with grunt to keep up with the outright speed of some of the newer semiconductor storage options available.

Synology DiskStation DS220+

The Synology DiskStation DS220+ is a popular choice for those in need of a reliable and fast SSD local backup storage enclosure. It comes with two drive bays that can support up to 32TB of storage. The DS220+ is also equipped with a 2.0GHz dual-core processor and 2GB of DDR4 RAM, providing enough power to handle multiple users and tasks simultaneously.

QNAP TS-453D

Another top pick for SSD local backup storage enclosure is the QNAP TS-453D. This model comes with four drive bays that can support up to 64TB of storage. The TS-453D is powered by an Intel Celeron J4125 quad-core processor and 4GB of DDR4 RAM. It also comes with two 2.5GbE ports, providing fast transfer speeds for data-intensive tasks.

Asustor AS6604T

The Asustor AS6604T is a high-performance SSD local backup enclosure that comes with four drive bays that can support up to 64TB of storage.

It is powered by an Intel Celeron J4125 quad-core processor and 4GB of DDR4 RAM.

The AS6604T also comes with two 2.5GbE ports and two 10GbE ports, making it a great option for businesses with high data transfer needs.

Best NAS Enclosures For Hard Disks

If you're looking for a cost-effective storage solution, HDD local backup enclosures may be the way to go. Here are some of the best options available.

These have been chosen because of their lower specs. Hard disks will have a tougher time pushing this selection of local backup storage device Bays to the limit.

Western Digital My Cloud EX2 Ultra

The Western Digital My Cloud EX2 Ultra is a popular choice for those in need of a reliable and affordable mechanical storage drive enclosure.

It comes with two drive bays that can support up to 32TB of storage. The EX2 Ultra is powered by a Marvell ARMADA 385 dual-core processor and 1GB of DDR3 RAM.

Synology DiskStation DS220j

The Synology DiskStation DS220j is another affordable option for a HDD local backup enclosure.

It comes with two drive bays that can support up to 32TB of storage. The DS220j is powered by a 1.4GHz quad-core processor and 512MB of DDR4 RAM.

QNAP TS-451+

The QNAP TS-451+ is a great option for those in need of a high-capacity HDD network enclosure.

It comes with four drive bays that can support up to 64TB of storage. The TS-451+ is powered by an Intel Celeron 2.0GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of DDR3 RAM.

The Verdict

At this point in time, we are leaning towards recommending SSD storage for all new projects regardless as to if it is a NAS, SAN or Server. Spend the extra few dollars to ensure that your storage sub system is no longer the bottle neck.

Hard disks have rapidly become yesterday's technology.

The choice at this time is pretty clear cut and that is SSDs all the way. Hard disks should be considered if you are on a real budget, enjoy lower performance, noise and increased failure rates coupled with a window into yesteryear.

The bits inside I have to concede, make great fridge magnets, it's one thing semiconductor storage will never take away from the trusty hard drive.

We hope this article has provided you with a solid foundation and understanding of this topic.

We have a number of other backup hardware articles listed below that will provide you with more detailed information on a number of related topics:

https://optimizeddocs.com/blogs/backups/backup-hardware-index

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