External HDD or External SSD?

[RanchTheHay005]

Budget (including currency): 130$

Country: India

Games, programs or workloads that it will be used for: File Backup

 

I am planning to purchase an external drive for data backup. I currently use a 1.5TB seagate expansion HDD , but the clicking and grinding noises with  random screeches while connecting it got me concerned . The maximum sequential speed of the HDD has also dropped to 70mbps from 130mbps . I think I can safely assume that the data in the HDD is at risk and I should make sure its safe

 

So here is my confusion , whether should I go for an external SSD or an external HDD.The current HDD is only 5 years old and started giving up even though it was not used much.Would it be a bright idea if I got an SSD , just to store stuff or should I stick with an HDD

 

I'll be joining college shortly and will be using the SSD/HDD till I complete my PG for storing stuff (around 8-10 years)

 

Can an external SSD store data safer than an external HDD? (Does it last longer?)

Is it worth the extra money I am paying?

I really don't mind the speed of the SSD Or HDD , I just want it to store stuff and last me for a decade probably without having to worry about it dying

[RanchTheHay005]

15 minutes ago, Mxsaa said:

An SSD can store data for a "hardset limit" because the NAND will die. But It depends on the case the drive will be used. 

If it's mass storage at home always plugged in and just hoarding than hell, just get a new HDD.

 

I'll be doing a general backup every month (around 5gb). It's not gonna be plugged in 24/7 or writing something all the time....its just gonna stay in the shelf with the files in there

 

15 minutes ago, Mxsaa said:

About the drive making screeching sounds and grinding. Stop using it for now, when you get a new one back up anything important. 

 

yesss , I'll do it

 

15 minutes ago, Mxsaa said:

But overall I would say an SSD is better as the storage speeds sequentially and IOPS often way higher, so it'll be higher performance out of the drive. 

 

I really don't mind the speed of the stuff being copied , I just want to get one , and not think bout it dying for a decade (seems like its too much)

 

15 minutes ago, Mxsaa said:

if you can tell me what you'll use the drive for, I can probably help figure out what's best

The first backup would have a 800GB of data dump from the HDD , after which It would be a 5gb data dump once a month or two (approx , sometimes there wont even be a need to take a backup in like 6 months)

 

I won't be taking it outside anywhere , it stays in the shelf , But I would often use it to access the data though (probably once in a week or two)

 

It's just used as a backup drive , won't be running any applications or games on it , Its mostly gonna stay in the shelf 

 

But I want it to work for the longest duration possible , as SSDs don't have moving parts , it kinda gives me confidence that it would last longer than an HDD , but then I have also read a few articles / people stating that the data might "fade" away when not used for long durations (sounds absurd , but gives me a confusion)

 

This was the exact usage the current HDD went through , and it started giving up now (I also have this internal HDD running for 14 years and abused even worse with unsafe shutdowns , still working great , but yea)

[RanchTheHay005]

13 minutes ago, Mxsaa said:

I mean if the disk is for one thing and one thing only. Mass data hoarding. You could buy something like this https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-Cable-Adapter-Converter-Support/dp/B00MYU0EAU

and just have an abysmal amount of HDDs you can just buy back and forth.

 

But for what your use case seems to be either get some 3.5" Internal ones like Seagate barracudas. WD Purples (Or any consumer drives)

 

But get an HDD because i think mass storage is better for you.

But the HDDs+the adapter cost like 20-30$ less than the SSDs here

 

I dont want to buy a new HDD like once in every 5 years , I would rather spend an extra 30$ if the SSD is going to last me longer than the HDD

 

the adapter itself costs the price of an HDD here

 

While an SSD only costs like an extra 30$

 

 

This is how much an external HDD costs

 

 

This is going to be kinda a long term investment and I'm trying to get a drive that lasts the longest

 

that 14 year old HDD is prolly the only HDD which lasted that long , every other HDD , external or internal did not last more than 5-6 years

 

As SSDs are something new for me (not something ive used for years and have some experience) , I have this slight doubt if SSDs work for more years if the writes are minimal (the storage's life is purely based on writes right? rather than the Uptime seen in HDDs where the duration of the motor spinning counts to its life)

 

 

 

 

[wONKEyeYEs]

Whichever way you decide to go,

get two of them.

One backup is not enough.

[RanchTheHay005]

7 hours ago, wONKEyeYEs said:

Whichever way you decide to go,

get two of them.

One backup is not enough.

Right , but it gets out of my budget right? 

[RanchTheHay005]

6 hours ago, Mxsaa said:

If you want long lasting mass storage, get two drives. HDDs usually last longer with having data constantly written and deleted 

 thats not my use case , because only the first use would have heavy writes , after which its gonna be very less to none (this is what i  meant by staying in the shelf)

 

I'll get an external HDD though if that is your recommendation 

[RanchTheHay005]

54 minutes ago, Mxsaa said:

It depends on the amount of data you wanna store.. and the importance in a way.

 

What you can do if some of it is important. Some is not, get one larger and one smaller where you dump everything you can't afford to lose (clone the data to both drives)

 

Often external hard drives aren't the most expensive for a high data count.

Ah right , got it . I'll try to get it like that

[QuantumSingularity]

In order to have defects on your HDD in just 5 years, you must've trashed it badly at some point. Such fails under normal use are extremely rare. I have 20 year old IDE drives which STILL work and are in perfect health. For external use only and longevity, HDD is the best, BUT it has to be treated well. No shocks and drops. Careful storing is the key. SSDs don't really care what you do to them once you unplug them, but the memory degradates and you are bound to lose information over time. Whether it's 3-5-7-10 years, depends on a lot of stuff a quite a bit of luck. For $130 i'd get a brand new 8TB drive and get a SATA to USB3 adapter and call it a day. I know that for that money you can get a RENEWED 14TB drive, but i just can't let myself trust such drive with valuable information. If i'm building a movie or music or game library.. you know - stuff that can be replaced easily, maybe then i'd use one. But for stuff like personal photos, videos and memories, only new.