HDD for notebook - how to change, how to choose and what to look for when buying

It looks like a hard drive on a laptop

As we have said, the laptop compact imposes restrictions on the size, form factors and ways to connect devices within it. Therefore, the HDD looks different from what we used to see inside the system unit. At the same time we must admit that now borders are gradually erased, and "the notebooks' hard drives are increasingly installed in a desktop computer.

Form factor, which has been adopted as a standard for laptops, usually marked by inches. The most common - 2.5 ", whereas normal," desktop "version - 3.5." There are even smaller size - 1.8 ". But there are less and less. To understand what a hard drive on a laptop, you need to know their types and features. We talk about it further.

Types of internal and external hard drives for notebooks

Now three types of drives can be found in laptops: drive on the hard disk drive or HDD, SSD or SSD and hybrid. We will understand each of them and find out what hard drives are in laptops.

What is the HDD in laptop

HDD stands for hard disk drive - the hard drive. Fully device called a drive on hard disk drive (HDD). This is the easiest and most affordable form of hard drives for laptops. Data is physically stored on aluminum or glass disks coated with a special ferromagnetic alloy. The magnetization of certain areas of the disk in a certain direction forms a logical zeros and ones, which are then lined up more human structures - programming interfaces, images, video and other.

The magnetic disk has its own unique parameters reflecting on his speed. The first thing that can draw attention - the time of random access. Characteristic shows how much time the magnetic head is positioned at a certain section of the disc. The faster, the smaller the number, and the better. Typically, manufacturers specify the mean value, e.g., 7-8 ms. For comparison - SSD can deliver up to 1 ms, despite the fact that positioning can take place even in several streams.

Spindle speed shows, surprisingly, the rotational speed of the disc. Standard for user PCs and laptops speed - 5400, 7200 and 10000 rpm. Higher speeds are used in servers and powerful workstations.

The data transfer rate - are also very important parameter for the drive. In the hard disk, it can be different - depending on the field, the external or internal. Internal naturally faster.

Because the inside of the hard drive are located movable mechanical parts, it is impossible to avoid the noise. Therefore, the HDD-drive for notebook, the SSD with respect to a completely soundless, quite noisy.

SSD SSD

SSD - Solid State DriveInside it has no moving parts. Data is stored in non-volatile cells, according to the principle of flash memory. Actually, it is there and used. SSD performance in an order of magnitude less. The first thing you should pay attention - the type of memory. Actually, now it is easy to get confused. Let's start from the beginning.

All memory, which is used in SSD - NAND, flash memory. It can store a single bit per cell, or more - accordingly, be the type SLC (single-level cell) or MLC (multi-level cell), respectively. The characteristics of the type of TLC is often indicated (triple-level cell), which is one of the MLC versions.

Now their capabilities. The fastest access has the SLC, but at the same time it is more expensive. MLC cheaper, but has a lower access speed. TLC, in fact, is a kind of compromise between the two other types.

Now a little about the speed. Because manufacturers use a variety of devices, interfaces, memory types as well as controllers, run-up in the market rate right now is huge. The approximate range - from 100 Mbit / s to 2000 Mbit / s.

Another important parameter - the disc life cycle. The characteristics may be specified failure time in hours or the maximum total number of recorded data. For example, for your life SSD you can record a total of 40 TB of data. Such a limitation is due to the fact that each Write or Erase gradually wear out the memory cells.

Hybrid hard drive for laptop

Hybrid hard drive, which is now commonly labeled as SSHD, combines both techniques at once. But it is more accurate to say that this HDD c separate flash memory, because it works that way. The main carrier of information is on the hard drive disk.

And on the SSD portion are written only frequently accessed data. That is, in the simplest case, the flash memory on the SSHD is a cache. This approach really helped to increase the operating speed of the system work, it downloads and overall responsiveness. In this case, the hybrids are not much more expensive. In fact, they represent a compromise between the SSD and HDD. they do not reach the first and second superior Following the general rate.

Which is better: the HDD or SSD for notebook

Naturally, the SSD is better not only for laptops, but also for stationary systems. What is different from the SSD HDD Laptop? The most important factor - the read and write speeds. In our time there is testing, running and improvement of SSD technology. Such devices while still more expensive than classical discs and can not compete on the stability and security of HDD storage. But progress has, every year the speed and reliability of the SSD is growing, and they may soon displace the HDD market.

Which is better to buy a hard drive for notebook on the technical characteristics

Etc. the choice will have to take into account the parameters of mass, which in some way affect the future performance of the entire system. Let's look at what you should pay attention.

Form-factor and the thickness

As mentioned earlier, the form factor - is the drive size. you will find a 2.5 "The vast majority of today's notebook computers. This form factor has become the standard. Very rare models can use 1.8 ".

The thickness is also important. Here you can give simple advice when choosing: before you buy a HDD for notebook, look old and see whether there is in the housing stock to a "thick" drive model. If not, you will have to select the HDD or SSD is strictly thickness.

The interface and the speed of rotation

Laptops always uses the SATA interface with its various modifications of the data rate. Much difference in these parameters do not. The price range on the HDD with different rates of interfaces is not so great. But it is necessary to take into account the fact that the highest possible rate of speed laptop interface must maximally correspond to the new drive.

With the speed of rotation of all the simpler - the higher it is, the faster read and write speeds. But it is worth considering that the high spindle speed and produces a large noise.

By volume and constant caches

What will be the size of the hard drive memory in a laptop - it is necessary to determine on the basis of needs. If you use the hard drive only for work, and the memory is hammered very slowly, enough storage capacity of 120-240 GB. If, however, often a lot of swing from the Internet, store movies on a laptop collection of images or music, it is better to pay attention to more capacious model of 500 GB, 1 TB or 2.

Cache - parameter that is used often moved or copied files, and also carries out their record on the disc. In fact, this option, as shown by tests, not really affect the performance of the system. Is that 1-2%. Therefore strive for this parameter, if it is possible to save, not worth it.

Selecting, evaluating and replacing the hard drive on the example of HP notebook upgrade

We can take a specific notebook model and its example to see how to find, identify and select the new hard disk to replace. Laptop take, for example, HP Pavilion dv6-6051er.

How to view the hard drive on a laptop

While our drive is working, we can see what he is is, to know his speed and interface. This may go a little program HD Tune. The Info tab you can view general information on the hard disk.

Interface with our hard drive for notebook Serial-ATA or SATA II. So we pick up his name. Speed ​​is listed in the 7200 r / min. Form factor can be found in the name of the HDD. We do it the standard - 2.5 ".

How to choose the internal hard drive for laptop

Once we know what hard disk form factor of the laptop and its speed, we can make a list of the required characteristics for the future. Form factor we've got speed, too, can take 7200 rev / min. The interface is suitable SATA II or, in another metric, SATA 300. It remains only to decide on the budget and the necessary volume. But here all individually. By the way, we need more, and the thickness of the drive. Unfortunately for the diagnostic program can not show such figures. Therefore, there are two options: either to remove the hard drive cover on the laptop and see the thickness, or do you find HDD specifications with accurate dimensions in the manufacturer's website.

How to choose an external hard drive for laptop

FROM external hard disks everything is much easier. The main criteria here - volume and speed. Although USB is still impose limitations on the data rate. For someone has a value and appearance, so perhaps it will be one of the main characteristics.

How to replace the hard drive

Replacing the hard disk begins with disassembly of the bottom cover.

On different models, this mechanism can be implemented in different ways. For example, in HP Pavilion dv6-6051er has a removable panel, under which open access to the RAM and HDD. The drive is fastened with two screws, so you first need to release it. Then the loops are disabled and the HDD is removed from the carriage by unscrewing the screws. To install the new drive, all operations are carried out in reverse order.

Manufacturers of hard drives for notebooks

Over the entire period of development of the industry of hard drives has already formed its own core of top manufacturers whose products are appreciated by users from year to year. At the same time the company regularly bought and sold each other for the purpose of acquisition or merger. Walk a little bit of market leaders:

• Samsung. This brand needs no introduction. The powerful corporation that has its greater resources and research, is able to produce high quality and reliable devices. The company is in a trend and usually is in the lead in terms of innovation;
• Seagate. The company specializes in the production systems for data storage. In 2011 the company purchased a unit for the production of Samsung's hard drive. By the way, many other well-known companies have also been purchased by Seagate;
• HGST. Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, in 2012, acquired by Western Digital;
• Western Digital. The oldest manufacturer of hard drives. Founded the company in 1970, the wheels began to develop in 1988. Today considered the leader in the production of drives for a variety of market segments.

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