SSD vs HDD: Speed, NVMe and How Long an SSD Lasts
An SSD stores data on flash chips and is many times faster than a spinning hard drive; NVMe SSDs are faster still, and SSD life is rated in terabytes written.
By Paul SyversonFounder.
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The short answer
A hard disk drive (HDD) stores data on spinning magnetic platters read by a moving arm. A solid-state drive (SSD) stores data on flash memory chips with no moving parts. The SSD is much faster, silent and tougher; the HDD still costs less per terabyte for large amounts of storage, such as backups and media libraries.
For the drive your computer starts from, an SSD is the clear choice. Of the 466 storage drives listed on Wiki Shopping on October 26, 2026, 460 are SSDs and 6 are hard drives.
SSD vs HDD at a glance
| SSD | HDD | |
|---|---|---|
| Sequential speed | About 500 MB/s (SATA) to 15,000 MB/s (PCIe 5.0 NVMe) | About 100 MB/s (2.5 inch) to 300 MB/s (3.5 inch) |
| Access time | 0.05 to 0.2 ms | 2.9 to 12 ms |
| Moving parts | None | Platters and heads |
| Noise | Silent | Audible spin and seek |
| Start-up | Nearly instant | Several seconds to spin up |
Figures are the typical ranges in Wikipedia's SSD article. Access time matters most for everyday use: opening apps and starting the computer involve many small reads, and an SSD answers each one far sooner.
What is NVMe?
NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) is the standard command set for SSDs that connect over PCI Express, the same high-speed lanes graphics cards use. The NVM Express group, which maintains it, describes it as built from the start for high bandwidth and low latency. Other SSDs use SATA, the same interface hard drives use, and top out around 500 MB/s.
Two things to check before buying:
- The slot. Most NVMe drives are M.2 sticks, but some M.2 slots only accept SATA. Your computer or motherboard manual says which.
- The PCIe generation. A PCIe 4.0 or 5.0 drive works in an older slot, but only at that slot's speed.
On Wiki Shopping, 192 drives list NVMe and 124 list SATA. Among NVMe drives that state a generation, PCIe 4.0 leads with 115, ahead of PCIe 3.0 with 47 and PCIe 5.0 with 27.
How long does an SSD last?
Flash cells wear a little each time they are written, so makers rate SSD endurance in TBW (terabytes written): the total amount of data the drive is rated to absorb. Wikipedia gives the example of a 1 TB Samsung 970 EVO rated at 600 TBW. At 50 GB written every day, reaching 600 TB would take more than 30 years.
Hard drives wear differently: their motors and heads are mechanical parts, and the studies Wikipedia cites put a typical hard drive's life at 9 to 11 years. SSDs avoid mechanical failure but can still fail, so keep a backup of anything that matters on either kind.
Capacity
The most common size on Wiki Shopping is 1TB (166 drives), followed by 2TB (91) and 4TB (55).
How we count
Drive counts are Wiki Shopping filter pages for storage drives, read from our database on October 26, 2026. A drive counts when its store listing states the interface, PCIe generation or capacity. The 30 year figure is our arithmetic: 600 TB divided by 50 GB per day is 12,000 days.
Shop by spec
Storage Drives
SSD, NVMe, M.2, 512GB
- 512MB Storage Capacity
- M2. 2280 Form Factor
- PCIe NVMe 3.0 x4 Interface
- Up to 3000 MB/s Sequential Read Speeds. Up to 1600 MB/s Sequential Write Speeds. Intel QLC 3D NAND
SSD, NVMe, M.2, 2TB
- GROUNDBREAKING READ/WRITE SPEEDS: The 990 EVO Plus features the latest NAND memory, boosting sequential read/write speeds up to 7,250/6,300MB/s. Ideal for huge file transfers and finishing tasks faster than ever.
- LARGE STORAGE CAPACITY: Harness the full power of your drive with Intelligent TurboWrite2.0's enhanced large-file performance-now available in a 4TB capacity.
- EXCEPTIONAL THERMAL CONTROL: Keep your cool as you work-or play-without worrying about overheating or battery life. The efficiency-boosting nickel-coated controller allows the 990 EVO Plus to utilize less power while achieving similar performance.
- OPTIMIZED PERFORMANCE: Optimized to support the latest technology for SSDs-990 EVO Plus is compatible with PCIe 4.0 x4 and PCIe 5.0 x2. This means you get more bandwidth and higher data processing and performance.
- NEVER MISS AN UPDATE: Your 990 EVO Plus SSD performs like new with the always up-to-date Magician Software. Stay up to speed with the latest firmware updates, extra encryption, and continual monitoring of your drive health–it works like a charm.
SSD, NVMe, M.2, 1TB
- BREAKTHROUGH PCIe 5.0 PERFORMANCE: Supercharge your workflow and gaming with PCIe 5.0, boasting up to 14,700/13,300 MB/s¹ sequential read/write speeds. Tackle massive files and power up your gaming with Gen5-twice as fast as the 990 PRO SSD.
- EVERY TASK, TURBOCHARGED: Speed past productivity limits. With random read/write speeds up to 1,850K/2,600K IOPS¹, enjoy fast game loads, seamless AI apps, and efficient multitasking. Virtually no lag, no limits-just nonstop performance.
- THINK FAST, CREATE FASTER: With random read/write speeds of up to 1,850K/2,600K IOPS¹, the 9100 PRO SSD fuels seamless AI content creation, swift loads, and smooth gameplay. Work, play, and create at lightning speed.
- SPEED, WHENEVER YOU NEED: From laptops, desktop PCs, to PS5 with added heatsink devices², experience blazing PCIe 5.0 speeds and up to 8TB of storage. Perfect for video editing, gaming, and creative tasks, with the compatibility to match your device.
- STAY COOL, RUN FAST: Push limits, not temperatures. A 5nm controller boosts power efficiency up to 49% over the 990 PRO SSD³, while advanced thermal control keeps performance smooth and reliable.
- BREAK FREE FROM STORAGE LIMITS: Expand your gaming horizons with up to 8TB of storage⁴ on the 9100 PRO. Enjoy vast space to grow your game library, save every title, and keep all your favorites without compromise. Unleash your full gaming potential-store, save, and conquer like never before.
- WORKS LIKE MAGIC: Your 9100 PRO SSD performs like new with the always up-to-date Magician Software. Get seamless firmware updates, extra encryption and continual monitoring of your drive health. ⁵
- WORLD'S NO. 1 FLASH MEMORY BRAND: Performance and reliability you can count on from the world's number one brand for flash memory since 2003. ⁶ All firmware and components are produced in-house, including our world-renowned DRAM and NAND, for quality you can trust.
SSD, M.2, 2TB, 3 PCIe generation
- Storage capacity of 2 TB
- PCIe Gen3 x4 interface M.2 2280 SSD
- Super fast transfer speeds, up to 1800MB/s (read) and 2400MB/s (write)
- Equipped with the Legend 710 blue heatsink to improve heat dissipation
- Comes with a 3 year warranty. AData