Is It Ok To Have A PC With Only SSDs And No HDDs? (Solved!)

SSDs can make your computer more responsive. They can boot your computer faster and significantly lower the program load times.

However, some people believe that using only SSDs in a computer without HDDs can degrade the SSDs faster.

In this article, we discuss whether that is the case. Will your SSDs degrade faster if you don’t have any HDDs?

Here’s Whether It Is Ok To Use Only SSDs In A Computer Without Any HDDs:

It is ok to have only SSDs in a computer without any HDDs. Newer SSDs can withstand a large number of write cycles before wearing down. So using only SSDs without any HDDs won’t degrade the SSDs faster.

Can You Have Only SSDs In Your Computer Without Any HDDs?

SSDs and HDDs are both non-volatile storage types, and both retain your data even after your power off the computer.

So you can have only SSDs, only HDDs, or both on your computer.

Does Having No HDDs Cause SSDs To Degrade Faster?

Having only SSDs without any HDDs won’t degrade your SSDs faster.

Newer SSDs have much higher write cycles compared to older SSDs. Most can handle more than 3,000 complete disk writes before wearing down.

They also have good wear leveling to distribute the write operations for maximum lifespan. As a result, modern SSDs can easily last more than five years under regular use.

Some newer laptops and branded desktops also have only SSDs and no HDDs. So using only SSDs without any HDDs won’t degrade your SSDs.

How Secure Is Your Data In An SSD Compared To An HDD?

Your data is equally secure in an SSD compared to an HDD.

Different SSDs and HDDs can have different lifespans. Enterprise drives are usually more durable than consumer drives and can handle higher write loads without wearing down.

Even different consumer SSDs and HDDs can have different lifespans.

However, generally, both SSDs and HDDs have comparable lifespans. So your data is equally secure on an SSD compared to an HDD.

Does Having Only SSDs Make Your Computer Faster?

SSDs can make your computer feel faster and more responsive.

When you install the operating system on an SSD, your computer will boot quickly. Your programs will also load faster when you install them on your SSD.

However, if you only store your media files like photos, videos, and music on your SSD and don’t install the OS or software on the SSD, it won’t make your computer faster. It will only speed up your data transfer rates.

Are There Any Disadvantages Of Using Only SSDs In Your Computer?

The only disadvantage of using only SSDs is their higher cost. Larger SSDs can still be more expensive than similar size HDDs.

So you can use an SSD for the OS drive and a large HDD for media storage to reduce the cost.

However, the price gap between SSDs and HDDs is getting closer, and even larger SSDs are well worth it these days.

Final Thoughts

It is ok to use only SSDs in your computer without any HDDs.

Newer SSDs have very high write limits and can easily last more than five years. Therefore, having only SSDs won’t degrade them faster.

SSDs also have comparable durability and reliability to HDDs. So your data is equally secure in an SSD compared to an HDD.

Newer laptops and branded desktops are also available with only SSDs. So it is totally ok to have only SSDs in your computer without any HDDs.

References

SSD Lifespan

SSD Reliability

SSD Vs. HDD