Solid State Drives (SSD)

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A solid state drive, or SSD, stores files using flash memory rather than the moving parts found inside a traditional hard drive. That means faster transfers, silent operation and better resistance to bumps and knocks. From an SSD external hard drive for portable storage to an internal SSD hard drive for your computer, there are options for work, gaming, creative projects and everyday backups. Where Can You Use an SSD? SSD external hard drives suit jobs where fast access to large files matters. Photographers can offload memory cards on location, while video editors can work directly from a fast external drive. An SSD can also run your computer's operating system and applications, expand storage on compatible gaming consoles or hold backups of photos, videos and documents. Choose the Right SSD Type and Connection The drive and connection both affect performance. Check what your computer or device supports before buying. 2.5-inch SATA SSDs: Common internal drives for compatible desktops and laptops. M.2 NVMe SSDs: Compact internal drives that can offer much higher speeds than SATA on compatible systems. Portable SSDs: External drives built for easy storage and file transfers between compatible devices. For portable drives, USB-C describes the connector rather than the speed itself. USB 3.2 and Thunderbolt support different transfer rates, and your drive can only run as fast as the slowest part of the connection. Browse internal drives if you are upgrading storage inside a compatible computer. Know What SSD Speeds Mean Advertised read and write speeds are usually measured under specific test conditions, so everyday results can vary. Your port, cable, computer and file type can all affect transfer speed. Burst performance shows how quickly a drive handles shorter transfers. Sustained speed matters more when writing large amounts of data, such as long 4K video files. Pick Enough Storage for Your Files Think about what you actually store rather than choosing capacity on pr