SSD, which one is better? Buying guide with the 12 best 2020 models

An SSD can do real magic on your computer if it is an old computer that still works under the hard drive of a lifetime , that is, an HDD. But it is also a solution to consider if you are looking to expand the memory of your device, as well as assess it if you need an external disk to store your files. Many situations, same solution.

Choosing an SSD first depends, therefore, on the use you are going to give it: it can be internal , in case you want to use it to give a new life to your computer (or simply to expand its storage capacity), and it can be external , see for example to have a backup, to play files on a TV or to dump files from one computer to another.

Since in recent years they began to fall in price to levels close to HDDs, solid storage units have become an option full of advantages: they are faster, have greater reliability and, in general, have Longer shelf life . What else can you ask for?

What is an SSD?

We have already said that an SSD is a solid state drive, and in a nutshell it is a component of the PC that is used to store data, exactly `` same '' as a hard disk (but we cannot call it `` hard disk '' 'because there is no' 'disk' 'inside).

An HDD hard drive has a large plate and a head. These elements move at full speed to write and find the data we save on our PC. In these units, the physical parts disappear , since they are replaced by elements more similar to the memory modules of a RAM pad.

If you are put in technology, you will know that a RAM is a volatile memory. This means that, when the power source is cut off, the data is deleted (so the RAM is emptied when we turn off the PC). However, they are based on NAND memory, a non-volatile memory that allows data not to be deleted when the power is turned off.

They do not need a battery to keep their data when it does not have a power source, and we can have it stored as an external hard drive without worrying that your data will disappear.

Next, we leave you a comparison between an HDD (left) and an SSD (right) so you can see the number of components that one system has and another:

The advantages over an HDD are obvious . By having a faster read and write speed, the files open and close much faster (this also applies to games and loading screens). E l system opens and closes in seconds, the file transfer is faster and there are a number of other less obvious advantages, but important.

For example, they produce less heat because there are no moving parts, they weigh less (which is important in laptops), they resist shock and do not produce noise or vibration (again, important when we talk about laptops).

In addition, if the limit of HDD hard drives has almost been reached, they still have a way to go , since they are inventing new ways to stack data and communicate it with the board with new connection paths (SATA, PCI, etc).

The best internal SSD alternatives in 2020

Now, you know what you should look for when you want to buy the fastest one. If your board supports M.2 discs, don't even think about it , since you will gain a lot of speed and the system, as well as the applications, will fly.

The technology of this storage format has greatly improved in recent years, but if we get into any online store, we see dozens of models and, many times, we do not know which one to start looking to expand our equipment.

Therefore, here we go with the best alternatives to buy an SSD in 2020 , a model for every need we can have so that you can find alternatives to spare depending on the characteristics of your equipment or the storage you need.

Kingston SSD A400 - Storage '' thrown away '' price

Right now, this Kingston model is the cheapest trusted option to upgrade our equipment . It is an ideal alternative if we have a desktop with an HDD and we want to accelerate the boot of the system, but also if we have an old laptop without this storage unit, since it is an ideal way to give a second life to the computer.