So your computer is a bit older, it’s in good physical shape, it does what it needs to do…just VERY slowly. Well, although there are many possible reasons for that, one of the main ones is that the drive inside may be a hard disk drive. A lot of people know the term “hard drive” and understand that it is a useful part of a computer, but what people may not know is that there are many types of “hard drives” out there. The drives that are the most common in newer machines, and used to upgrade older ones, are called solid state drives. They function differently from a fundamental standpoint than their spinning drive counterparts. There are not any moving parts inside of them, instead they run more efficiently and are almost silent. But that is not the only upside!
Hard disk drives (or HDDs) have a rotating disk inside that stores your data. Because of that, they are more susceptible to damage from drops and things like that. They also break down a bit over time, causing many older HDDs to become very slow or even fail completely. This is the reason for many people having issues with older machines running like turtles after a while. The drive has become worn out and often could benefit from being replaced.
If replacing an HDD, one of the best options you have is to do so with a solid state drive (or SSD) rather than another HDD. Not only are SSDs smaller, lighter, and less prone to damage from drops, but they also generally run 5-10 times FASTER than standard HDDs! So they are considered a significant upgrade when it comes to a storage solution. Most any place that does sell electronics may have SSDs for sale. Once the swap is done at a computer repair shop, the difference will be more than noticeable, it will be absolutely game-changing. Of course, if you do the swap yourself, remember to take your old drive to an electronics recycling facility if you plan to dispose of it. In 2024, a computer with a standard HDD is just failing to meet its potential, and probably causing you headaches.
Sure, an HDD can still be useful today; as a storage device for data like movies and music or as a backup for all the data you have on another drive. But running an operating system such as Windows off of an HDD is just not recommended. Luckily, SSDs are no longer prohibitively expensive, and their affordability just lends itself to easing the transition to a better drive.
If you have an older computer that has begun to chug along as you are trying to use Firefox, or if it freezes up while you are trying to open a file, chances are you have a hard disk drive that is starting to reach the end of its life. We suggest looking into an upgrade, and if speed is what you are after, look no further than a solid state drive. Computer repair shops will certainly be equipped to help you with the swap!