SSD Upgrade

Is your computer slow?
Does it take ages to boot up? Don't panic, there is a fix.

If you are still running a mechanical hard drive, now is the time to move to a solid state drive. It is the biggest single upgrade you can make to a computer. After the swap your machine is at least five times faster than it was before.

What is the difference between a hard drive and an SSD?

There are many differences, but the one that matters here is the way the data is found and stored. A hard disk contains spinning platters. Every time it reads or writes, the head has to move to the right position first, which is not the fastest way to do anything. That is why the read and write speed of a normal hard disk is around 80 to 160 MB/s. The platters are also fragile. Physical damage can cost you the data stored on them, and recovering damaged data is difficult and expensive.

An SSD has no platters and no moving parts at all, it works with memory chips. Reading and writing is much faster because the controller reaches the data almost immediately. A normal SATA SSD runs at around 320 to 550 MB/s, and with no moving parts it takes physical knocks far better.

Five reasons to replace an old hard drive with an SSD

1. SSDs are quieter. No moving parts, so no clicking and no motor noise.
2. SSDs are faster. Thanks to the higher transfer rate an SSD can be five to ten times faster than a hard drive.
3. SSDs are greener. With no motor and no mechanical parts to drive, an SSD draws less power, and less power means better battery life.
4. SSDs run cooler. Again because nothing moves, an SSD makes less heat than a hard drive. That matters on our island, where it gets hot easily. Less heat means a longer life.
5. SSDs are more durable. An SSD copes with knocks and drops far better, so there is less chance of losing what you have stored.

Speed is easy to compare, but a hard drive still has its own advantages. SSDs are fast, and they cost more per gigabyte than a hard disk of the same size. Hard disks are slow, and they cost less.

In most machines you can use both. That is the best of the two in terms of money, speed and space. Pick a smaller SSD of 120 to 500 GB, pair it with a hard drive of 1 TB or more, and you get the most out of your budget. The SSD carries the system and the programs you use every day, the hard drive holds your files and everything you reach for less often.

Can you keep the old hard drive and add an SSD?

On a desktop computer this is usually simple. There is around a 90% chance that there is room inside your machine for an extra solid state drive.

On a laptop it takes a little more thought. A laptop built for two drives takes an SSD without any trouble. A laptop with a DVD drive can take one as well, fitted in place of the drive with a special caddy. Some models have a spare slot for an SSD from the factory. If you are not sure whether your laptop can take an extra drive, get in touch and we will tell you.

An SSD upgrade to make your computer faster

You'll find us on Triq Birkirkara 58 in St Julian's, Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 18:00 and Saturday from 11:00 to 17:00. Bring your machine in and we'll tell you what it takes.