When site owners look for a web hosting server, they have specific requirements. These usually include high uptimes, fast speeds, reliability, top-notch security, and scalability. Next, the hosting server is chosen based on its type: shared server, cloud server, VPS server, or Dedicated Server.
However, one of the most critical aspects that tend to get ignored is the server’s hardware and the support infrastructure. When you opt for a Dedicated Server Hosting plan, paying attention to the physical components used, like the RAM, CPU, and storage devices is essential.
When you upload your site to a web server, its data is stored on the storage device. There are different types of devices for storing data – Hard Disk Drives (HDDs), Solid State Drives (SSDs), and Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) drives.
The choice of the storage device plays an essential role in the performance of the server and your website. An SSD Dedicated Server Hosting plan is top-rated since an SSD is more powerful than an HDD. However, with NVMe SSDs gaining popularity, site owners are unsure whether they should opt for HDD, SATA SSD, or NVMe SSD Dedicated Server for hosting.
This article will compare these three storage devices to help you pick the best-suited one for your Dedicated Server.
Difference between HDDs, SSDs, and NVMes
Hard Disk Drives, or HDDs, are traditional storage devices with a magnetic disk and a moving needle for storing and retrieving data. SSDs, on the contrary, store data on microchips without moving parts. SSDs are of two types:
- SATA SSDs
- NVMe SSDs
SATA SSDs use Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) connectivity to connect the SSD to the server.
On the other hand, NVMe SSDs use a host controller interface designed for PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) SSDs.
Here are the differences between these three devices:
First, let’s compare HDDs and SSDs:
| Feature | HDD | SSD |
| Physical Construction | HDDs have a rotating magnetic disk and mechanical arms that move to store and retrieve data. | SSDs have flash memory cells for storing data. |
| Read/Write Speeds | HDDs have slower read/write speeds since the disk must physically move to store and retrieve data. Also, data fragmentation causes HDDs to function slower compared to SSDs. | SSDs do not have any mechanical parts. Hence, they have faster read/write speeds compared to HDDs. |
| Reliability | HDDs are prone to wear and tear since the disk and arms have to physically move for data storage and retrieval. Also, HDDs can get damaged by physical shock. | SSD Dedicated Servers have no physically moving parts and are more reliable than HDDs. |
| Noise | HDDs make noise while storing and retrieving data since the disk spins physically. | SSDs work silently since there are no moving parts. |
| Energy use | The physical movement of the disk and arms requires more energy. | SSDs use less energy than HDDs since there is no physical movement of parts. |
| Price | HDDs are cheaper than SSDs. | SSDs cost more than HDDs since they are built using microchips which are costlier than magnetic disks. |
Now, let’s look at the differences between SATA SSD and NVMe SSD drives:
| Feature | SATA SSD | NVMe SSD |
| Compatibility | If you own a SATA SSD, you can use it with SATA connectivity. You can also alternate between an HDD and SSD if needed. | To use an NVMe SSD, you need an NVMe protocol. HDDs cannot be connected using NVMe. |
| Performance | SATA SSD is slower than NVMe SSD:Maximum Read/Write speed: SATA SSD = 600 MBPSNMVe SSD = 3,500 MBPSQueue Depth Capacity:SATA SSD = 32 commandsNVMe SSD = 64k commandsMaximum Input/output operations per second (IOPS):SATA SSD = 75,000 IOPSNVMe SSD = 15,00,000 IOPS | |
| Price | SATA SSDs are cheaper than NVMe SSDs. |
Summing Up
While NVMe SSDs are more reliable and offer better performance than SATA SSDs and HDDs, they are costlier.
Hence, before choosing a Dedicated Server Hosting plan, assess your site’s hosting requirements and consider your budget to find the best option. Good Luck!